mattamyhomes.com Reveals Some Minor Changes for Seaton

Few minor updates I noticed on Mattamy's Homepage:

COMING SOON THIS SPRING. Seaton Creekside, where homes and nature live together. Soon, the sun won't be the only thing to rise in the east. Seaton Creekside is a special new Mattamy neighbourhood adjacent to natural greenspace and a winding creek. Seaton, on the eastern edge of the city will feature Urban Townhomes and Urban Singles as well as 34', 36' and 43' detached WideLot homes. Biking/walking paths and park spaces will further enhance the natural feel of Seaton and provide gathering places for friends and neighbours. Seaton Creekside offers easy access to major shopping and recreation facilities and is close to major highways such as 401 and 407.

Gone is the suggestion that the site sales would open this Spring, confirming what I posted last week.

Also they corrected the link on the main page that Listed New Condos in Pickering to say New Homes in Pickering

Summer 2008

That's the new tentative opening for the Seaton Creekside site as per a Mattamy representative. The projected timeframe has been moved from a Spring opening to a Summer opening.

If that is the case then it'll be easier to camp out in 20 degree weather than this Arctic weather we're having now.

www.seatoncreekside.com

I have this URL forwarding to this blogger site. Easier to remember. Bookmark it. In the future, if/when we have a forum it will directly linked to this URL.

Opening Date Delay?

Got an email reply yesterday from Mattamy and the latest sounds like a Summer 2008 opening vs. Spring. I've emailed for them to confirm the delay. We'll see what they say.

Fitting in...15 Residential Areas

These are the residential sites that have been planned out for the area. This image is courtesy of the City of Pickering's Central Pickering Development Plan. Thanks again to shawn122 for the link.

They weren't kidding about the sustained green space that will highlight Seaton. If you click on the map above or this link, you can hover over greenspace on the map and see that pretty much what isn't residential will be greenspace. Quite impressive.

A Community of Epic Proportions?

Dropped by the Summerside sales office just to see what the sales office has to offer (asides from $500,000 semis :s) and asked a sales person about Seaton. He doesn't have much information to offer but he did say that compared to Summerside (500 units), Seaton will be much much much bigger. 10x to be exact. He has heard around the number of 5000 units, with model homes and the whole 9 yards. Sounds like Seaton may be the second coming of Hawthorne Village in Milton -- Large, multi-phase development.

Hopefully we can get enough of those 5000 buyers into a forum like Hawthornevillager.com and support each other through the many decisions that will come with new home buying. It seems to me that their forum is a great resource for tips, questions, group buys, advice, etc. I would like to eventually start a forum like theirs for our community once the Seaton site opens (with the help of shawn122)

Assembly Line Homes by Mattamy

The Toronto Star has featured Mattamy's (aka the #1 advertiser in the New in Homes section)indoor home manufacturing plant in Milton. Hopefully, for Seaton they will outsource the manufacturing to a plant in China to save the buyers even more money on their mortgages and they can dominate the home builiding sector for years to come like Wal-mart (I hope the sarcasm was noted). But a very interesting article nonetheless.

"And we all have to deal with shovelling our driveways, but just imagine having to shovel out a construction site."

Read More...

Mattamy Homes released in Cambridge Mill Pond

Again, for your interest. I really like these prices and hopefully we get prices similar to these. Good place to look at floorplans and get an idea of what you want your house to look and feel like.
Take a tour of the 34' and 43' Widelots in the Virtual model home tours.

Townhomes
From $188,990
Click for Details

34' WideLot™ Detached
From $242,990
Click for Details

43' WideLot™ Detached
From $294,990
Click for Details

50' WideLot™ Detached
From $334,990
Click for Details

Seaton? What is Seaton?

A new community is in the planning and proposal stages that could capture the spirit of what a forward thinking community should be. “Planning with a clean slate gives a wonderful scope to do things right for a sustainable future.” Planners have great hopes that the new residents of Seaton will be extremely proud to live and work in this new community balanced between nature, the environment, and sustainability for the future, gracious living, activities and employment opportunities.

Interesting article about the community of Seaton. What's planned for Seaton...the Seaton Airport? Home to 15 residential communities...Nature, Preservation land and more...

http://www.astoriamagazine.com/seaton.html

A Sign of Prices to Come?

A new Phase released in Stouffville by Mattamy. I found this of interest because I wanted to get a sense of the pricing they might be offering to us in Pickering. I'm hoping that the prices in Pickering won't be overinflated (yeah right) and I have a spending limit in mind that hopefully tops out no more than $350k. Ideally, a nice 43' lot will go for around $300 mark (again wishful thinking)...that'll leave me a bit more room for upgrade costs, move-in fees, lot premium, etc. I don't know if its wishful thinking on my part but I'm hoping that recent changes in the market and Pickering's low-profile in the housing market works in my (and your) favour.

Oh, and I didn't just go ahead and move to Stouffville because its too far and inaccessible to the places I have to be (ie. work, play, family, friends, major 400 highways, etc.)


Anyways, towns, 30', 36', 45' and 50' lots released Jan 26th in adjacent areas of Stouffville.

From mattamyhomes.com website:

Wheler's Mill was one of two mills in the area that grew to be Stouffville, one of Ontario's most charming towns. You will discover a tremendous variety of WideLot" homes in Wheler's Mill. With about 40 different designs and floor plan variations available, our Stouffville Community is all about giving you the choice.

and pricing starts as follows...

WideLot™ Towns
From $252,990
Click for Details

30' WideLot™
From $299,990
Click for Details

36' WideLot™
From $319,990
Click for Details

45' WideLot™
From $379,990
Click for Details

50' WideLot™
From $448,990
Click for Details

Opening Date

I called the GTA east office for Mattamy and I forget the name of the lady I spoke to but I was able to find out a very vague timeline for when the site will open up their sales. She said "February or March, if not, April or May." mmmkay thanks. Since that call they've updated their site to say "COMING IN SPRING" which usually falls between those months :P

Anyone else have any info from someone who works with Mattamy?

I think i'll shoot them an email and see what's up.

Upgrades, Premiums, Arms, Legs, etc.

I've been trolling the Hawthorne Villager forums and have found some interesting (and not-so-interesting :s) numbers regarding upgrades

Theses are approximates, not specific to any model, nor will be applicable to Seaton Creekside:

• 9' ft ceilings on the main floor ($5000)*; 2nd level ($8300)



• Hardwood on mainfloor* ($5000+)



• Stained Oak Stair Case ($9000)



• Maple Stairs with Wrought-iron spindles* ($6-8000)



• Granite Kitchen Countertops ($5000+)* (this one is will be my 1st maybe)



• Potlights ($200-250/ea)* (this one is a tough decision, may do this after closing)



• Garage to House Door* ($1200)



• 3 Piece Basement Rough-in* ($580)



• Kitchen Backsplash ($1000+)



• Smooth Ceilings 1st Floor* ($1000), 2nd Floor ($2300)

What I've read about lot premiums:

• $20-25k for a lot backing onto greenspace


• $5k for a lot with a look out


• $20k for something backing onto a school or park

Again, all estimates and not from 1st party sources...but definitely something to consider into budgeting and choosing a lot.

Some of these costs I really didn't think of before I began looking for a new home. Some prices seem fair to me however, some seem crazy and overpriced...so now comes the task of choosing what I feel would be worth it and can't be revisited with a reno in the future. I've indicated with asterisks which I feel I may/will be adding to my home purchase price. And i'm working with a budget around $20000...so we'll see how this plays out in the end.