by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
The first SAM Tram of 2008, a bus tour sponsored by the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council, focused on the Northern Clay County area and included the Pine Ridge, Two Creeks and Briar Oaks and Eagle Landing communities.
Overall, the tour revealed a trend toward lower pricing, creative incentives and innovative floor plans.
“There are great opportunities and great bargains for buyers if they are buying,” said Phil Aitken of Mona Vie and chair of the SAM Tram.
The tour included model homes by builders such as Ryland Homes, Drees Homes, Monarch Homes, Taylor Morrison Homes, Providence Homes, Rosewood Homes, David Weekley Homes, The Vintage Group, CornerStone Homes, J.A. Long, Engle Homes, Standard Pacific Homes and Higginbotham Builders.
The prices seen on the trip ranged from $180,000 for a single family standard home to over $1 million for a custom-built single-family home in Eagle Landing.
All of the builders had site agents representing their models except for the builders in Eagle Landing. They handle their sales a bit differently: all of the sales for the 10 builders in the community are handled by the Eagle Landing at OakLeaf Plantation sales agents, so Eagle Landing agents were in their models in that community.
“We have a main office up at the welcome center.” said Sales Manager Keith Jones. “We as a company felt that was the best way to service your customers so you can bring them into one building. We run everything and try to make it easy on you as well as on your customers so you can come to one place to get all your information.”
There were a few new trends.
“Multi-use spaces and a better designed bonus room such as in the Ryland model,” said Carol O’Donoghue of All Real Estate Options, who attended the SAM Tram. “I saw a focus on family living/kid spaces and, of course, the trend towards new colors including blues and greens.”
From the models visited, it seemed the floor plans seemed to be more open with columns and easier divisions between the rooms.
“They are still showing the open concept but I think they have perfected it,” said O’Donoghue. “Not just one huge room, but easy divisions with some walls but a nice flow.”
Prices seemed to have come down and seemed to be more in line with resales.
“I saw some great prices, incentives and great floor plans in all sizes,” said O’Donoghue. “I enjoyed it very much and will plan to attend future events. I know many people who would have learned much from this day, but didn’t really understand what it was.”
Green building was talked about, mainly in the Ryland Homes model.
“I was impressed and I think it is a great selling point,” said O’Donoghue.