Jupiter Country Club (Villas, Juno Beach, Golf: sales, real estate, 2013)

[eerickso]

We are looking at purchasing one of the Golf Villas in Jupiter Country Club. We spent a lot of time looking at many other communities in both Jupiter and PBG and dollar for dollar it seems that you get much more in JCC. Any reason folks are aware of NOT to move forward? We do realize things have been moving slowly over the last couple of years, but feel that's due in large part to the economy - unless there's something else we're not aware of. The build quality and amenities are pretty impressive for the price.

[windycitychicago]

We love Jupiter Country Club, our home will be finished Aug 2013! We were very impressed w all the amenities ie cost of membership, Toll Brothers, new homes, not over built, beautiful lots, workout room, etc. We love the fact it is west of 95, everything is close in proximity so driving a few miles to town will not bother us. There's actually a grocery store fairly close towards Jupiter Farms. We are so excited to get down there!! I think you will love it! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions..

[NYBabyMama]

I think the issue is people are afraid of the resell value. A few people got burnt selling 1/3 off what they paid, but I agree what you get for your money is impressive. Our family is looking into buying there within the next year if we like what we see with new sales growth.

[eerickso]

Thanks to both of you for the quick responses. The community looks meticulously maintained and we ate at the clubhouse while we were there and it was quite good. We also spoke with some of the neighbors and they all seemed very happy with their homes and the community overall.

As far as people selling a home after purchasing during the "bubble" and then getting burned in a down economy, that's always a risk - in any community, in any area of the country. We don't plan to sell anytime soon and now seems to be a perfect time to buy with prices and interest rates low.

[City Guy997S]

What would concern me is that the place sold slow even in the boom! Mirasol/Frenchmans were both up and going before the collapse but they are now sold out (maybe a handful of lots available but essentially done) and JCC has 30 homes completed out of 350+...

Best advice, buy pre-owned and get it for market value not the dream prices the builder thinks they are worth. Also note the prices are lower than in years prior (builder prices) but Toll also shrunk the floorplans accordingly.

[eerickso]

Perhaps we're talking apples and oranges? What my husband and I are looking at is one of the golf villas. They offer pretty much everything we're looking for and the finishes and upgrades available, as well as the overall community, at the price point are excellent compared to everything else we've looked at in that area. We have looked at quite a few pre-owned homes in PBG and Jupiter and nothing comes close, even single family homes that are *supposedly* "recently completely renovated." NOT! What some people are trying to sell for top dollar completely amazes me.

I'm curious what you attribute the difference in sales success between Frenchman's and JCC, as they are both TB communities (although, of course, Frenchman's is completely beyond what we'd be interested in spending for a retirement property). The price per square foot at JCC doesn't seem out of the ordinary to me. I'd like to better understand the point you're trying to make beyond, perhaps, that TB/JCC didn't react quickly enough to market realities several years ago.

[eerickso]

BTW, on a somewhat related note, I was happy to see this press release issued today:

Toll Brothers Named 2012 Builder of the Year by Professional Builder Magazine

Toll Becomes Only Builder to Earn This Honor Twice

HORSHAM, Pa., Nov. 1, 2012 -- Toll Brothers, Inc., (NYSE:TOL) (www.tollbrothers.com), the nation's leading builder of luxury homes, today announced that it has been named 2012 Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine (www.housingzone.com). Having been named Builder of the Year in 1988, Toll Brothers becomes the first builder to win this coveted honor twice.





Douglas C. Yearley, chief executive officer, stated: "We are thrilled and honored to win this prestigious award. Since our founding in 1967, Toll Brothers has balanced prudent financial management with opportunistic growth, which has allowed us to successfully survive and flourish through five recessions. This strategy has positioned us to take advantage of current land and other growth opportunities. Compelling demographics in the upscale market coupled with pent-up demand and limited competition in our luxury niche give us a major advantage as the market recovers.

"Toll Brothers places the greatest importance on providing our buyers with exceptional customer service, quality and value and to offer them the most attractive communities in which to live: 95% of Toll Brothers customers would recommend our company to a friend. This speaks to the incredible diligence and commitment to excellence that the Toll Brothers team brings to our work each and every day."

Robert I. Toll, executive chairman, stated: "When we first won this award in 1988, we were a small, regional home builder focused almost entirely on providing homes for growing families in five Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States. Now, 24 years later, we are a national builder with a brand that reaches across 20 states and 50 U.S. markets. We have diversified our product lines to include single-family and attached move-up, empty-nester and active-adult homes, resort-style communities, high-density suburban communities and, through our City Living brand, mid- and high-rise towers in the metro New York City urban market and Philadelphia."

"Toll Brothers represents what is best about home building. They deliver quality homes and great overall value." notes Patrick O'Toole, Editorial Director and Publisher of Professional Builder magazine.

"Throughout the company's more than 45 years in business -- particularly during the recent period of tumult for housing -- Toll Brothers has been extremely foresighted in its business planning, its marketing, and its strong commitment to its home buyers."

"We are so honored to be recognized for this very prestigious award," said Kira Sterling, chief marketing officer. "It is a tribute to the tremendous hard work, dedication and integrity of our colleagues and associates at Toll Brothers."

For more than 75 years, Professional Builder magazine has remained dedicated to serving the needs of the nation's home building community — builders, designers and trade partners — with award-winning content and proven, practical solutions. Each month, Professional Builder is read by 107,000 leading decision makers in the home building market, 100 percent of whom have the authority to buy or specify building materials, products, and equipment. The editors of Professional Builder produce a number of industry recognition programs, including Builder of the Year, National Housing Quality Awards, and the Housing Giants rankings.

Toll Brothers, Inc. is the nation's leading builder of luxury homes. The Company began business in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TOL." The Company serves move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers and operates in 20 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Toll Brothers builds an array of luxury residential communities, principally on land it develops and improves: single-family detached and attached home communities, master planned resort-style golf communities, and urban low-, mid- and high-rise communities. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development and land sale, golf course development and management, home security, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations. The Company acquires and develops commercial properties through Toll Commercial and its affiliate, Toll Brothers Realty Trust, and purchases distressed loan and real estate asset portfolios through its wholly owned subsidiary, Gibraltar Capital and Asset Management.

Toll Brothers is honored to have won the three most coveted awards in the home building industry: America's Best Builder, the National Housing Quality Award, and Builder of the Year for the second time. Toll Brothers proudly supports the communities in which it builds; among other philanthropic pursuits, the Company sponsors the Toll Brothers - Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network, bringing the Met opera to neighborhoods throughout the world. For more information, visit TollBrothers.com.
CONTACT: Frederick N. Cooper, IR/Financial Media fcooper@tollbrothersinc.com (215) 938-8312 Kira Sterling, General Media ksterling@tollbrothersinc.com (215) 938-8220

[NYBabyMama]

I can also add, according to my husband, that their stock has been doing extremely well this year.

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by eerickso

I'm curious what you attribute the difference in sales success between Frenchman's and JCC, as they are both TB communities (although, of course, Frenchman's is completely beyond what we'd be interested in spending for a retirement property). The price per square foot at JCC doesn't seem out of the ordinary to me. I'd like to better understand the point you're trying to make beyond, perhaps, that TB/JCC didn't react quickly enough to market realities several years ago.

JCC is missing something.....can't put my finger on it but obviously other buyers are thinking that too. Mirasol is on the PGA corridor (tons of restaurants, golf courses, shopping etc), Frenchmans is bigger homes (and lots of them) and that must attract the younger families.

One thing that still shocks me about Toll is that they will still build a million dollar home with a wood 2nd floor (both walls and floors). Most builders today accept the fact that when you get to a certain price point concrete walls from foundation to roof is the standard especially in Florida (mold, bugs, hurricanes, etc love wood!). JCC has been flat for 2012 with 7 sales (3 new homes, 4 resales). The resales lost 539K, 532K, 621K plus real estate transaction costs and a townhouse lost 28K (sold for 395K back in May). The 3 new homes were 499, 599 and 624K. So obviously the values are simply not there so Toll rolled the prices back but also shrunk the floorplans accordingly.
http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/papa/...lesSearch.aspx

Toll might be the greatest award winning builder but I would bet the 30 or 35 owners out there at JCC wish they never bought a house out there! Look up an aerial photo and you will see very few homes and lots of empty lots.....kind of makes the neighborhood look/feel abandoned. Worst part is some people have lived out there since 2007!

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by eerickso

BTW, on a somewhat related note, I was happy to see this press release issued today:

I love ads like those......but consider:

1. How much advertising does Toll do with those magazines that offered the award and who has ever heard of that publication to begin with?
2. How many "National Builders" are left especially on the luxury front?
3. How many "awards" like this are just hype to get people to sign on the dotted line?

BTW Toll has another project going right now in Juno Beach on the Intracoastal waterway called Frenchmans Marina......open 12-15 months, two models built and 3-4 other homes under construction, not exactly booming either despite it being the last master planned community on the ICW.