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Post by Guest on Aug 22, 2008 23:22:40 GMT -4
We looked at purchasing a new home being build by Lacrosse Homes today in Queen Anne's County. Does anybody have any positive or negative feedback on the builder? Also if anybody knows if they are a good company to purchase a home from and will stand by their product after it is built?
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guest
New Member
Posts: 30
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Post by guest on Aug 23, 2008 0:39:15 GMT -4
How exciting! Are you new to the area? The only thing I know about them, is that they seem to really give back. They make affordable homes for war vets, and built one for free for a wounded war hereo and his wife. So, that says a whole lot as far as I'm concerned. I would suggest asking to speak to homeowners who have already worked with them, and see how their experiences went. Where are they building in QA County? How are the prices? Just curious as my son is looking as well for a new home maybe down this way (i hope!!) Good luck!
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Post by moose on Aug 23, 2008 6:46:29 GMT -4
I've worked in a few of them and the quality seemed good. Lacrosse homes built some homes at three creeks community in centreville. Maybe ride up and see if any neighbors are out and ask..
Lacrosse builds some beautiful homes.. good luck
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Post by linda712 on Aug 23, 2008 14:24:45 GMT -4
Have never heard a negative word against them, only positive. It's my understanding they're an excellent company.
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Post by chickennecker11 on Aug 23, 2008 17:49:41 GMT -4
We've been living in our Lacrosse Home for alomost ten years now. NO complaints
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Post by ljp on Aug 24, 2008 1:03:58 GMT -4
well, lemme tell ya... I beg to differ... chickennecker moved in to the neighborhood before all of the problems started... We had a horrible experience with them and our home, still having little problems actually after 7 years.
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Post by Another guest on Aug 24, 2008 6:43:20 GMT -4
Dear guest - Please do yourself a favor and actually visit homes in several of thier neighborhoods. This formum is filled with complainers and negative nellies. YOu will get a good response and then there is someone to ALWAYS shoot it down, just to be mean spirited. I am sure theyhave had problems but all builders do, but go with the masses and SEE for yourself.
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Post by bchevy on Aug 24, 2008 7:10:32 GMT -4
Dear guest - Please do yourself a favor and actually visit homes in several of thier neighborhoods. This formum is filled with complainers and negative nellies. YOu will get a good response and then there is someone to ALWAYS shoot it down, just to be mean spirited. I am sure theyhave had problems but all builders do, but go with the masses and SEE for yourself. The good out number the bad up there 3 to 1 so far. "Another guest", So just how do you know the motives behind the posters unless you practice what you preach? Of course every builder will have problems, or a lemon, no one is perfect. If you have nothing to say, try it.
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Post by Greg on Aug 24, 2008 7:46:25 GMT -4
Hmm... where to begin... We bought a Lacrsss home 5 years ago, we love it, but there were several issues.
first. the front foundation wall was constructed 8 inches out of plumb on 1 side. when they started framing the 1st floor deck it wasnt even sitting on the foundation in one corner of the house. When I complained, I was told by one of the Dixon brothers that it was no big deal, the rest of the foundation would carry the load. They didn't make it right until my lawyer complained for me.
second. They installed the wrong kitchen package in the house. The cabinets and counter tops were not what we ordered, in fact the cabinets didnt even fit in the kitchen properly. I brought this to there attention on the pre settlement inspection. Again, the refused to fix it until my lawyer intervened.
Finally... After living in the house for 4 years, I applied for a building permit to do some renovation and was denied by the county because Lacrosse never had a final inspection done on the house or got a Use and Occupancy permit. I was Told by the county that I had in fact been illeagally occupying the house for 4 years.
I'm sure that they really are no diffirent than any other builder...You always expect minor problems. My real issue was that they were really unwilling and unresponsive to deal with any of the problems until I backed them into a corner.
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Post by bluecrabber on Aug 24, 2008 7:52:37 GMT -4
Lots of builders in QA county and most of them are really hungry right now and there are lots of bargains. Lacrosse is about the same as most.. they are held hostage by their subcontractors.. You absolutely have to have a builder who will not let the subs do shabby work. I am very familiar with most of the builders in QA county. I have also built a couple houses myself. If you would like some advice on who, what, and where I would be more than happy to help.. No obligation whatsoever. ceo@radarpet.comGood luck in your search. Best regards, BC
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Post by debwilt629 on Aug 24, 2008 9:27:43 GMT -4
my friends father built some beautiful homes right off of chester river beach rd. right before the winchester creek development. I don't know the name of the development, it is only a few houses. The homes are top quality! You should ride back there and look at them. They are in a beautiful homes in a wooded area.
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Post by terplady on Aug 24, 2008 11:15:45 GMT -4
Yes those are some beautiful homes! I believe the Road is called Morgans way... on the left
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Post by chickennecker11 on Aug 24, 2008 11:20:06 GMT -4
Yes, When we built our home Lacrosse was a MUCH smaller company. More buyer input and involvement created a better product. I personally traveled to our job site 4-5 days EVERY week until completion, ensuring positive results. A home (my home) is a significant investment that I wasn't going to let be dictated to me. Lacrosse has grown significantly over the years and MAY have lost some of the customer friendliness that they started with. They were always up front with me and responded to ANY comcerns that we had. If your product/HOME didn't turn out the way YOU wanted it to, then guess what - IT IS YOUR FAULT!! If you have problems now with your home guess what - IT IS YOUR FAULT! Stop being so lazy and put some time back into your own house. Say you go out to dinner, you order one thing and the waiter brings you out a plate of dog crap. If you sit there and eat the crap then you DESERVE what you get. ;D (Wtf??)
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Post by Mike on Aug 24, 2008 13:29:33 GMT -4
Wow Chickennecker.. easy killer
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Post by chickennecker11 on Aug 24, 2008 17:00:07 GMT -4
Yeah........................whatever
Kinda like all the "Poor Souls" who were roped in to buying all of those homes with the A R M S and NO Interest loans.
Now WE as taxpayers are Bailing them out!!
Again - Wtf???
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Post by debwilt629 on Aug 24, 2008 17:05:00 GMT -4
We bought a lacrosse home about 7 years ago, it was a spec home and love it. There are 2 lacrosse developments right here in grasonville one off of chester river and then one off of main street. If you get a chance drive thru I'm sure there would be someone out and would be willing to answer any questions you may have.
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Post by kl on Aug 24, 2008 17:09:57 GMT -4
Well necker, we're paying for the Bear Sterns rescue to. Soon to pay for Fannie and Freddie too. What about that? WTF? Or ..?
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Post by bchevy on Aug 24, 2008 17:24:50 GMT -4
Yeah........................whatever Kinda like all the "Poor Souls" who were roped in to buying all of those homes with the A R M S and NO Interest loans. Now WE as taxpayers are Bailing them out!! Again - Wtf??? No interest? or interest only? They should ban A.R.M.s
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Post by chickennecker11 on Aug 24, 2008 17:25:05 GMT -4
kl - my friend you are exactly right. Unfortunately that could be a 10-15 page thread all by itself.
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Post by chickennecker11 on Aug 24, 2008 17:26:54 GMT -4
Sorry bchevy you are right.... Interest only........ Shouldn't type when angry
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 24, 2008 17:56:04 GMT -4
I am with BChev and CN on this one too. A.R.M.s shouldn't be allowed. Period.
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Post by falgar25 on Aug 24, 2008 18:02:48 GMT -4
Nah, in the right hands, ARMs are a useful tool. What they should ban are the individuals and companies that are responsible for the bad loans. I purchased my current house with an ARM. But since this was before the big housing market boom, I was qualified for the loan based on the after-adjustment rate, not the teaser rate. Both the bank and I were interested in my being able to pay the loan into the future. I suspect that many of those who can not make their payments today were not qualified in the same way.
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Post by bchevy on Aug 24, 2008 18:47:29 GMT -4
It should also be required that on paying back the loans, it's not mostly interest up front and principal later
Make it 50/50 all the way through. the mortgage companies have made the rules way too slanted.
For MOST people that get into ARMs it's a way bad deal. It's tricking the system on a bet that someone with lesser credit and income can make it work. If they could make it work they would be doing that already and qualify for the fixed rate loan.
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Post by falgar25 on Aug 24, 2008 19:05:04 GMT -4
It should also be required that on paying back the loans, it's not mostly interest up front and principal later Make it 50/50 all the way through. the mortgage companies have made the rules way too slanted. For MOST people that get into ARMs it's a way bad deal. It's tricking the system on a bet that someone with lesser credit and income can make it work. If they could make it work they would be doing that already and qualify for the fixed rate loan. Paying interest up front and not 50/50 is a feature of amortization and fixed monthly payments. Anything else and either the bank will have to eat the cost of the loan or the payments will be much higher in the beginning of the loan and decrease each month. A.R.M.s as "tricking the system" is part of the reason for the problems today. Another way of looking at them are as a loss-leader for the bank. They are willing to take a loss on the interest for the first couple of years in order to entice me to give them my business. For me, I get to pay less interest now with the understanding that I might have to pay a higher rate later. If I take the money that I save on interest and put it towards the principal then there's a chance that even after the adjustment, my minimum monthly payment may not increase. Everyone's situation is different. Hard as it would be for some to accept, not everyone can afford to purchase a home. If more people had been told "no," there wouldn't such a problem today.
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Post by bchevy on Aug 24, 2008 19:41:54 GMT -4
I do get it.
I also think if the features of amortization were a little more equitable from the beginning it would help the masses more than it would hurt. Would it be bad for the banks, yep. BUT they woul dbe getting their principal back sooner as well.
In the situation we're in today, the people in trouble "might" have more equity in their home when the economy takes a dive. JMHO
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