Anyone purchase or build an American Legend home in the DFW area? If so, I would love to hear positives, negatives, tips, etc.

Thanks!

[This message has been edited by Bonfire 1996 (edited 7/31/2009 3:34p).]

Bonfire 1996, thanks for the feedback. Why do you recommend Meritage? Any details would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I've represented buyers with Meritage and with American Legend (along with most D/FW builders). Here are my thoughts:

By the way, I personally know people very high up at both of these builders.

Meritage (also Legacy and Monterrey) builds a quality home, some of the floorplans are a little "box-like", but you can sometimes get a lot of square footage for the money (like First TX in that respect). In my experience they stand behind their product on warranty issues. Energy efficiency is good, above the average in D/FW as far as what they do. Quality of construction above average as well.

American Legend is owned by the Bright family (Bright football complex at A&M). They are a local builder, not national. They build a very high quality home. They are willing to be a little more custom in many cases than some of the big builders. Warranty issues, in my experience, have always been handled well. Floorplans have some nice architectural elements. Most of all, they build what may be the most energy efficient home out there for the money...very tight. Just had one of theirs inspected, his comment was that it was built better than just about any builder he's seen.

My company specializes in helping buyers of homes. If it's a new home you are considering, I guarantee you that our connections will save you money. You don't pay us a dime in commissions (and Aggie rebate to you). I'd love to help you if you are not already represented.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Cody 972 365 0432

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Meritage's upgrades are more of a standard feature. Most of it is included in your original price which led you to the house in the first place.



[This message has been edited by Bonfire 1996 (edited 7/31/2009 3:34p).]

Do you guys have any thoughts on Mercedes Homes and DR Horton homes? Thanks for all the great info!

Mercedes is going through some financial difficulties right now, but word is that they will come out of it in the next couple of months.

DR Horton is solid, based in Ft. Worth, and they do huge volume.

Seriously, shoot me an email or give me a ring and I'll walk you through any questions you have.

Cody@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com

cell 972 365 0432


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Regarding Bonfire's latest post:

Standard features vary by community, not by builder. What Meritage or AmLegend offer in one place, they will offer a different standard package in another. I'd say the standard feature packages across the board are very similar when comparing those two builders.

Sounds like Bonfire has had some issues with AmLegend.

I've not had a bad experience with either builder, quite the opposite.

One thing I will tell you is this: If you lined up four homes, freshly built, same square footage/etc and told me I could pick one of them to be my own at no charge....and you told me the builders were Meritage, American Legend, DR Horton, and Mercedes.....

I'd pick the American Legend. Doesn't mean the others are not good....but based on my experience it would be a pretty easy choice for me.

Considering all factors, I'd rank those:

1 American Legend
2 Meritage
3 DR Horton
4 Mercedes

Hope that helps a little

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I would agree with Cody for the most part.

I haven't seen that many AL homes. But the ones I did were unremarkable from an inspection standpoint - which is more good than bad. Don't really feel I can offer an opinion on them based on the small sampling I have had.

I have seen lots of Meritage. They would be high middle on my informal list of builders in the area. Not great but not terrible. Very dependent on the neighborhood and the people you actually work with.

Options do seem to be dependent on neighborhood and starting price point. Which is obvious if you think about it. I also strongly believe if two builders in the same development are are at the same price point and one has many more "free" options, you should look REALLY hard. NOTHING is free in this world. So how would one builder give you many more "free" options? Are they taking a loss? Nope, maybe their costs are slightly lower, but for the most part they are saving money somewhere you cannot see.

Personally, I prefer the builders that will do the optional stuff, but charge a fair price for it. That way I know they are not cutting back somewhere else.

For what its worth, I would agree with Cody;s ranking, but would put several builders above that list. Personally, I would look at Highland or Drees first in the 200 - 500k range. Then the list gets murkier.

Horton does a decent job at certain price points. If you are getting in to the higher price points and large square footages, I would go with someone else.

All this is simply my opinion based on seeing hundred and hundreds of new houses, and hearing customers experiences. If you try, maybe here on this board, I am sure you could find people with the opposite opinion and experience.

If you want my further thoughts on any local builder feel free to shot me an email and we can discuss my experiences with them.

Kevin Weiss
http://www.absoluteinspections.net

Thanks to all! This is great information!

I would look at Landon Homes. John Landon started Legacy Homes, they merged with Monterey to create Meritage. John left to start Landon, and they build some pretty nice houses. Or Shaddock Homes.

quote:

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Sounds like Bonfire has had some issues with AmLegend.

---

I'm not trying to stir the pot back up, but American Legend Homes' potential clients who read this thread before it was edited should know that the negative things that Bonfire1996 was posting about American Legend Homes were baseless. Bonfire1996 approached me via private message in December of 2008 about the possibility of his company providing two specific products to American Legend. Several months later, American Legend awarded Bonfire's company a portion of the work. After giving his company a trial run on several houses, we decided it was better to stay with our current vendor. Evidently, this did not sit well with Bonfire1996 and his company. I would love to specifically address the false statements, but my intention here is to bolster the name of American Legend, that has been unfairly tarnished, rather than to drag down the name of someone else. To the savvy buyer...do your research for yourself. Get out and walk through some model and inventory homes. Talk to the sales people, talk to people who live in the communities, talk to local realtors. Apparently some of our fellow Ags operating under the veil of internet anonymity don't always have enough integrity to represent the complete truth to others on this forum.


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[This message has been edited by Arlington03 (edited 8/6/2009 10:05a).]

Thanks Arlington! Looks like we are going with American Legend and so far the process has been great! We are excited!

Awesome, wsteed. In which community are you going to build?

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If the numbers come out right we are shooting for the Heights at Westridge.

Good for you...I hope it works out!

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wsteed,

That's a great community. I have a client that just closed on a home with American Legend out there.

I'm assuming you are represented by someone else, but if not call me...I'd love to help (and it WILL NOT cause your price to go up...in fact, with the rebate I offer, you'll actually come out ahead $$ wise).

Cody
972 365 0432


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