SD Engineer, I haven’t closed escrow yet so would rather not discuss any details at this point. Thus I think it’s OK to share my general thoughts and opinions with you openly.
Yes, the out-of-town buyer Brooke mentioned was me. I know a few things about solar efficiency of glass so was very keen to learn the detailed specs. The dual pane Low-E windows used on Riverwalk homes (both Canopy Park and Stoney Creek) have excellent solar properties, in both radiated and conductive heat. This will make living in Santee a lot more comfortable and a bit cheaper (requiring less A/C).
With just a few homes left in Stoney Creek, I think StanPac may not be as willing to deal as when I made the commitment in early December, when they had about 10 homes uncommitted. Furthermore, the 2 homes (Plan 1) shown in SDLookup.com both seem to come with a lot of amenities such as upgraded flooring, appliances, window blinds, rear patio, etc.
Thus I would say if you can get down to $399K, it would be an acceptable deal…unless you’re gambling that home price will dip further (it most likely will) but risk having someone else snap it up beforehand. It’s a balancing act and it’s very hard to get the best of both ends, so it’s up to you.
However if you’re willing to consider the Canopy Park townhouses, you should be able to get better deal. Although it also only has a few homes left, an entire phase has yet to be built. I’d say you can drive a harder bargain.
If you are in no rush to buy right now, the smart advice is still to wait it out. However if you’re like me, who is sick and tired of rental properties and constant moving, Riverwalk is a good community with solidly built-homes. Just a prepared to suffer a bit of home value depreciation until the market comes back around.
