By the way Nazareth sounds nice. But try and be on a town road.
And look at resales. Cheaper and what you see is what you get.
Resales have gone down in price but new construction is still expensive because labor and materials are still high.

The thing with the resales that I have noticed is that they are lower in price but only by about $30,000-$50,000 for the homes that we are interested in and most of them would need work....ie...new kitchen - and this brings us right up to where a new home would cost where we have our choice in details. We are going up on Saturday and are looking at 2 resales and this would be in addition to the 2 new subdivisions we have already checked out, but are reviewing. We'll see what happens...we are being very careful with our decision as we are not in a rush, so we have lots of time to think about this. Thanks for the advice - it is much appreciated! : )

Glad to hear you are being careful and not rushing into this. One thing to check out is if the development has a community Association. Maybe you know this already, but many charge $$$$ yearly for improvements that never seem to get done. Check with people who have lived there a couple of years on how effective the Association is. Check they're by-laws and rules. somtimes the restrictions are so strict they ruin any chance of a normal family home. don't leave no stone unturned. I worked around the Pa homebuilding machine for many years and all the developers, hombuilders, and realators want from you, is your signature that allows them to get as much of your money as they can...it's business, what can I say!

Beware of any community with a board and rules.

And as for a resale you can inspect it for problems. For example you can check for water intrusion in the basement. My house is at the top of a steep hill . No water in my basement. A neighbor down below gets water in the basement.

You are so right...I have read numerous posts on the Eagles Landing development, good and bad, but many were complaints about once the sale goes through, they forget about you and move on the the next sale. As much as this is aggravating and just not right, I am not shocked...they have such a large number of homes going up, that there is no other way. Business is business, just like you said. This is one of the reasons why I am leaning towards the road of only 17 homes going up..but we are still planning to keep a very close eye on them. That is, if we do end up with them... Who knows?! lol

Ugh this is so frustrating and I can't wait for it to be over...I just hope it's all worth it in the end, and I have a feeling it will be as long as we cover every angle of this move. Thank you so much for your input - all of the replies have really helped. And I really do appreciate the sincere honesty minus the hostility. I wasn't sure what kind of responses I would get as I know many are unhappy with us transplants moving in : ( The thing is, is that I totally understand but it's the way of life

Have you seen this?

Tuskes- Eagles Landing Development, Nazareth - Lehigh Valley - Pennsylvania (PA) -Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

Let me say this, we recently were sent HOA due increases in the mail and we still don't have an explanation on WHY! It's been over 8 months and we were told that a meeting would be held. No meeting yet and no answers from Tuskes. Good luck if you can get a hold of the property management office as well. If you drive through our lovely neighborhood, you will see no speed limits signs, hardly any street lights, boards at the ends of the driveways because roads are not finished, boards in the middle of the street to help with speeding, if you look at the empty lots (which there are many) you will see that the weeds are so overgrown, trash is being thrown in there thanks to the opening of the park, with trash and high weeds comes flies, bugs, etc.. Weeds are not being pulled where they are supposed to be pulled so it looks like crap! Because they are not maintaining these lots, the weeds come creeping through your own yard! Tuskes is responsible for making this development look nice and maintaining what isn't sold. So what are the dues used for??? Oh don't let me get started on the sinkholes and the crooked concrete walk that still has yet to be fixed!

Read more: Tuskes- Eagles Landing Development, Nazareth - Lehigh Valley - Pennsylvania (PA) -Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

and this:

Here's something from this board about that development of McMansions. Remember the prices of those homes have already dropped and that's why the community has so many overpriced homes for sale. Wait another year and the once 400k homes will be selling for 225k. Here's a nice thread about the builder. First a small portion and then you can read the link for everything.

See that toobusytoday, I remembered the rules.
+++++++++++++++++++++

http://www.city-data.com/forum/lehig...kes-homes.html

More recently, and more importantly to us, is an issue that effects the property value of our home and that of our next-door neighbor. Not listed in the development plans, Tuskes began construction of a water tower directly across the street on a hillside facing our property. Nevermind the unsightliness of the thing-- that's actually not the concern. It's this: they cleared trees and land for its construction last fall and this Spring's rains revealed a serious flaw: there is not adequate drainage to accomodate the run-off of dirt and sediment. Subsequently, our property-- and that of our neighbor-- has been deluged by water and sediment. In May, a portion of my driveway collapsed where the run-off gathers. I immediately attempted to contact the builder, but never got closer than his secretary.

I have written 5 emails, sent a complaint to the PA attorney general and contacted my local congressional representative. All this is in motion as I type, but three months later, there has absolutely zero response from Tuskes to rectify the problem.

It's simple, really. Tuskes failed to provide a drain pipe beneath the driveway of the residence across the street, as they built that home with the intention of quick-sale prior to the construction of the water tower (no, the homeowner was not informed there would be a mammoth water tower in his back yard). Without the drain pipe, the water channels directly into my yard. My driveway collapsed, there's dirt and stone and clay everywhere in my yard and I have the added benefit of uncontrollable weed growth from all the seedlings that have naturally washed down every rain storm.

Read more: Tuskes- Eagles Landing Development, Nazareth (Creekside: sale, HOA fees, relocation company) - Lehigh Valley - Pennsylvania (PA) -Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

I have read a few that are complaining of these things, yes. Many of them dated back but I was planning on printing a few out and bringing it with me on Saturday to get some answers....I am sure teh answers will be a bunch of BS but I am curious to see what the excuses are and if maybe things have turned around since the complaints have been made in the past 2 yrs. Thanks for this....I am not excited in the least in Eagles Landing... I told my husband this. But we are basically going to use this as a comparison/threat lol when dealing with the other homes.

Private roads need to be maintained by the homeowners, "usually" mail isn`t delivered on private roads (mailbox clusters at the end" school buses usually don`t go down private roads. You can ask the township if the road has bee dedicated to them and have they taken it over.
As a township road the township will plow and maintain the road as a private road it doesn`t have to meet the same standards.

__________________
"If I only had three words of advice, they would be, Tell the Truth. If got three more words, I'd add, all the time."
— Randy Pausch

I'm thinking this has to be a township owned road...I am going to double check, of course, but it doesn't seem like the type of road to be private. It's only 17 lots of 1 acre each...they aren't a few acres each and all the homes are by same builder...not the case where we could buy a lot and use our own builder. That type of situation seems like it would be more the type to be private. I am happy this was brought up, bc I didn't even realize that this could be the case. I spoke with my husband about it and we do not want a private road.

Funny but you`ll be surrounded by my friends and relatives. I have relatives on Hahn Rd, Creamery Rd a friend with a farm near High St and Cherry Hill Rd, a BIL that owned the Bushkill Center Hotel back in the 70`s and a bunch across 512 in Moore Township.

Your location is great. Couple miles to Jacobsberg State Park, maybe a mile to the Borough Park and Pool and good eats all around the area. Heck if you take the short cuts your only 20 to 30 minutes to Blue Mountain Skiing.

__________________
"If I only had three words of advice, they would be, Tell the Truth. If got three more words, I'd add, all the time."
— Randy Pausch

HA! I know! I already mapquested Blue mountain and it said 25 min!! I can see the ski run from the end of my street....well, not "my" street lol but the one we want. And we are a skiing family so this is a lovely thing : )

Oh I am so happy that you are telling me this. I had, up until now, been trusting myself with my research and my own liking to the area but without anyone's true opinion on the area besides, "It's nice", this is what I needed to confirm my confidence (if that makes any sense lol). Thank you so much. Funny how when anyone asks about the Lehigh Valley and where to move, no one really brings up Nazareth. I found it by doing a search on good schools in the area. I think I will also keep it a secret ; ) ~Kelly

Actually you can`t see the ski area, maybe the lights because you`ll be on the south side of the mountain and the ski resort is on the north.

There are very few downsides to the area you`re looking at. Schools, shopping, recreation township are all good. Interstate access from your lot not too bad and I78 at rush through NJ is horrible.

The only unknown is the builder. I know nothing about them so you`ll really need to do your homework. If it was me I`d do all the internet checks, BBB and attorney general for complaints, I go through some of their older subdivision on my own and talk to other homeowners. I would also to a financial background check to see how solvent they are. Nothing like plunking down a couple construction loan payouts only to have a builder go belly up while you have a half completed house.
I`ve seen that more then once.

__________________
"If I only had three words of advice, they would be, Tell the Truth. If got three more words, I'd add, all the time."
— Randy Pausch

Hmmm I wonder what I was looking at when I thought I saw a ski run....it was probably a snowcovered powerline trail lmao! Oh well...it's close enough haha

I tried to do an online search for complaints a while ago, or any information for that matter, and couldn't find anything but one...It was a simple complaint about the builder not caring about you after the deal is done - sounds pretty familiar to Tuskes. I started to think that maybe they were all like that? But other than that haven't found anything else good or bad. I am going to do a deeper search and find out about older subdivisions....if any. The agent mentioned one over in Plainfield that was still in progress (on the other side of 33 about the same distance in). Again, I appreciate all of this info soooo much. Please keep it coming if you happen to know or hear any more! : ) ~Kelly

I`m not a fan of Tuskes, LTS or Toll Bros. I personally prefer to find a lot and have the option of my own builder. Too many subdivisions look like cookie cutters because even though house types may vary most builders have that signature look. LTS has that big window with the arched top.

Bill Reinhart builds some beauties. I know of one he did not far from the Andrettis and one he did in Plainfield Twsp.
http://www.reinhartandrusk.com/index.html

__________________
"If I only had three words of advice, they would be, Tell the Truth. If got three more words, I'd add, all the time."
— Randy Pausch

So stay away from private roads, home owner associations, and flood areas.

I just found out that Redstone is a township owned road, thankfully. It was confirmed by the agent there. HOA would be at Eagles Landing...not at the top of our list.

We have also considered buying a lot and building our own home using a private builder, but most lots for sale are on main roads. I did find one for sale on Baron road off of Keller. This road is beautiful. Nice quiet narrow road with a little bridge going over a creek. Very wooded area. Tranquil, peaceful setting. I am going to look into this further as we do have a home in mind that would be our ideal layout and it could be possible if we went this route.

That`s a nice road just puts you closer to Wind Gap and rt 33.

__________________
"If I only had three words of advice, they would be, Tell the Truth. If got three more words, I'd add, all the time."
— Randy Pausch