NEWS

NEWS

October 11, 2017

Pulte preparing for new homes, neighborhood at Babcock Ranch

By: Vicki Parsons - IT

By Andrea Stetson, Special to The News-Press Published 7:01 a.m. ET Oct. 7, 2017

spec homes Pulte

This is one of the spec homes Pulte is building at Babcock Ranch.(Photo: Submitted)

Pulte is getting ready to build its first inventory home in Babcock Ranch. It’s just the beginning of their plan to build more than 135 homes in that community. The Arbordale will be an unfurnished inventory home constructed in the Lake Timber neighborhood.

“That is the reality — the dynamic need — people want to move in right away,” said Al DiNicola, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Kitson & Partners, the developers of Babcock. “With models, by the time you design the house and pick the options it takes longer. Having inventory homes for people to move in right away adds to the velocity.”

Marc Taglieri, general sales manager for Pulte, said that is why their plan is to build many of these spec homes.

“We have been focusing on having inventory ready for delivery,” Taglieri explained.”The bulk will be built homes, but we will have something for people that want something quickly.”

He expects around 10 to 15 percent of the homes built by Pulte at Babcock Ranch to be inventory houses. They chose the Arbordale as their first spec house.

Arbordale by Pulte Homes at Babcock Ranch

The Arbordale by Pulte Homes at Babcock Ranch. (Photo: Submitted)

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home spans 1,980 square feet under air and is priced starting in the upper $200,000s.

“It has been a popular floor plan,” Taglieri said.

One of the things that make this model right for Babcock is that the garage is in the back leaving more room in the front for a porch. A trademark of homes in Babcock are front porches that facilitate the idea of a neighborhood and neighbors meeting neighbors.

“The other thing that is great is the proximity to the town center,” he said. “We are an easy walk or a very short bike ride to the town center.”

Taglieri said the initial plans are to introduce four floor plans in the Lake Timber area. The four plans range from 1,758 square feet to 3,293 square feet. There are both one- and two-story options. Currently there are plans for six homes in that section but they might expand and add more sites if the product is successful.

“Lake Timber focuses on front porches and views of the lake,” Taglieri said.

neighborhood plot

But Pulte has even bigger plans. They will introduce eight floor plans in the Parkside section where they have 131 lots to build on. Parkside will offer one- and two-story homes ranging from 1,671 square feet to 3,222 square feet.

The Parkside project is expected to begin in January. Pulte is now in the utilities phase of its Lake Timber home. They expect to break ground in November and have the home ready for move-in during March.

“It takes four months to build,” he said. “We can turn them very quickly.”

Pulte and Lennar are both offering homes at the lowest price points in Babcock Ranch. Stock Development, Fox Premier Builders, Homes by Towne, Florida Lifestyle Homes and Castle Harbor Homes are also building in Babcock Ranch. When complete, Babcock will have about 20,000 homes in the community.

“We are focusing on providing affordability,” Taglieri explained. “It is not just for a family buyer, with the school being here, but for the empty-nester that is looking for a second residence and doesn’t want to spend a fortune.”

That’s why all the homes in Lake Timber start in the upper $200,000s and all the homes in Parkside start in the low- to mid-$200,000s.

“With our price point, there will be no sacrifice to quality,” he said.

The first move-in ready home plot

The first move-in ready home by Pulte will be built on the is lot. (Photo: Andrea Stetson/Special to The News-Press)Taglieri said Pulte is excited to be part of Babcock

“First it is an opportunity to work with a great developer,” he began. “Every project that Kitson has worked with has done very well. And to work side by side with Lennar — we work very well with them. How could you not want to be part of what is going on here? It is the first solar powered town in the country. Anytime you have the opportunity to be part of something groundbreaking, you want to.”