I selected the Homestead neighborhood due to the smaller floor plans, lots, and lower costs. Retirement is on the horizon and I knew the max I wanted to spend. I also loved the neighborhood’s proximity to the river and all of the amenities. Next I got the floor plans for the models I liked best and drew in my furnishings to scale. I wanted to make sure the house itself would meet my needs both for lifestyle and love of entertaining/hosting guests (one of the main reasons I wanted to make a move.) I can do the same for my buyers.

Leslee prepared preliminary estimates for me so I could compare my 2 top choices. One Plan would provide a great step up from my current home but did not excite me. The other one, I fell in love with, but preliminary estimates put it out of the price range I had set for myself. I knew a visit to the design center would assuredly add thousands of dollars, and because a client had just experienced the shock of totally blowing her budget at another builder’s design center, I knew I could not make a decision until I had analyzed the actual costs of my must-have upgrades. These included upgraded flooring and upgraded cabinets as well as an extended lanai, the biggest ticket items. I encourage all of my buyers to do a preview visit to the design center before signing their contract if budget is a concern and I accompany them on their visit to offer insights from my own experience.

When I went for my preview visit to the design center, I was shocked at how much all of the other little things I wanted would increase the cost of the house and blow my budget, so I made the decision to accept the standard selections on items that I could easily change out later as I had cash available. This included such as door hardware, plumbing and lighting fixtures, screening the porch, and custom painting.

If there had been a large enough difference between my bottom choice and the model I loved, I probably would have gone with the less expensive option just to get into the neighborhood and avoid being stressed over finances. However, with Leslee’s help, I was able to negotiate a contract that included all of my must-haves and the home I loved within my budget. I highly advise anyone contemplating building a home to take the time and effort to know their bottom line before committing any dollars and signing a contract.

I’m Building a New Home in RiverTown!

Although my decision to build a new home probably seems to some like an impulsive move, the idea has really been sitting in the back of my mind for quite a while. I have been itching to move to a larger, more entertainment-friendly home for over a year, because of my love of entertaining and a desire for more space in which to do it. I currently live in a very limiting 1500 s.f. patio home with only a breakfast bar and a cramped eat-in kitchen (so cramped that once everyone is seated, if anyone wants more food, everyone has to stand up to let him out—sort of like sitting in a large booth!) My family won’t allow me to host family dinners because of the cramped interior, limited parking, and virtually no outside views. While the home works ok for little ol’ me, I have longed for a home in which I could entertain friends and family ever since I down-sized over 10 years ago-- So much so, each time I go out to show property, I find myself considering whether I would be happy in whatever communities and homes we visit.

I have shown property to buyers and toured the RiverTown models and amenity center several times so was somewhat familiar with the neighborhood, but when I visited a Realtor Grand Opening of the newly opened River Club several months ago, I loved what I saw. Then I received a mailer inviting me to the grand opening of a new RiverTown neighborhood, Northlake, with homes starting in the low $220’s. That really caught my attention! You see, I am currently debt-free, and I did not want to increase my living expenses, keeping in mind my desire to work a little less and volunteer my time a little more as I “mature”. i would only consider a move if I knew I could pay off the mortgage before I retire within the next few years.

So, with mailer in hand, I visited the RiverTown Sales Center, models and several homes under construction with my Mattamy site agent, Leslee a little back in July. My original plan was to explore the cost of the smallest floorplan in the Homestead neighborhood, which is walking distance to the new River Club. We toured all of the amenities, which I loved. Especially the River House which spurred all sorts of ideas for functions I could hold there.

I called my son, Forrest and made him and his girlfriend tour the neighborhood, then called my daughter/life coach, Megan to discuss the best way to make the right decision for me. She encouraged me to determine what outcomes I hoped to achieve and analyze whether the move would do that. She also told me to look at all of the possible downsides and determine what the true risks would be and how I would respond to them. If I was comfortable with both, I should make a decision based on that analysis and not be influenced by others who have different needs and objectives.

So I did, and I jumped into the RiverTown Experience!