Interview with Lori Albers from Lennar Homes Carnes Crossroads

Listen as Lisa Richart-Hernandez of View Properties and the Host of Living in Charleston podcast talks with Lori Albers the on-site agent from Carnes Crossroads in the Goose Creek/Summerville area. This development has beautiful amenities, pools, walking trails, dog park, playgrounds, pickleball, tennis and more!

https://www.lennar.com/new-homes/south-carolina/charleston/summerville/carnes-crossroads

Lori Albers-New Home Consultant
Lennar Coastal Carolinas

1941 Savage Road Ste. 100-C

Charleston, SC. 29407

www.lennar.com

 C: 843-901-2583

lori.albers@lennar.com

Transcript

intro  0:05  
Welcome to Living in Charleston podcast with your host Lisa Richard Hernandez, a fun loving Charleston resident for over 25 years and a full time real estate agent with her pulls on everything Charleston, from where to live, to where to eat, what to do, where to tour, and who is who about living life in the low country of Charleston, South Carolina.

Lisa RichartHernandez  0:32  
Hi, welcome to living in Charleston. I have a great guest today, Laurie Albers with Luminar homes in coastal Carolinas. Say hello, Laurie. Hey, everybody.

Lori Albers  0:43  
Thanks for having me.

Lisa RichartHernandez  0:46  
I'm so excited to talk to you today. Laurie is a new construction on site real estate agent up in Carnes crossroads and she's gonna tell us all about her neighborhood and what they have available today.

Lori Albers  0:58  
Thanks for having me again. And I am a new home consultant for Lennar Homes and I am based out of Carnes crossroads in Berkeley County. We're in the city of Goose Creek. But this Somerville area, our big excitement about Carnes Crossroads is this is the first South Carolina Agra hood that we are developing. And this is actually a community garden that we're going to have a real professional farmers on. Okay, I

Lisa RichartHernandez  1:25  
was wondering like what's an agri? That's the first time I've heard of this. So kind of explain a little bit like Will people be able to plant their own things or how's that work?

Lori Albers  1:34  
So it's a real working farm. It's gonna be led by professional farmers. This gives the benefit to our homeowners are fresh fruit, produce herbs, flowers, they will allow some Co Op with the community, but these farmers are actually on site to grow the crops themselves. Oh, that's

Lisa RichartHernandez  1:54  
cool. So will there be like a little sort of like a place where they sell them like

Lori Albers  2:00  
there will currently in cars we have a barn on site where they hold wheat, monthly farmers markets the last Friday of every month, which this will supply our own farmer's market. This farm is going to be 10 acres. So we're going to be adding a new amenity as well in Carnes crossroads, we're going to house a new farm, and then the 10 acres of the farming land won't be awkward aside of that,

Lisa RichartHernandez  2:28  
Oh, wow. That's really cool. So it's not just like you're going in there and plowing down all the trees and not replanting anything. That's correct.

Lori Albers  2:38  
And in this new amenity, they're going to add another pool, and a spa like pool. We're going to have a new gym, a community building, which is going to have beverage stations, we're going to have pickleball courts, tennis courts have basketball courts. So we're super excited about this edition. They partnered up with a developer that specializes in masterplan communities and amenities. So this is going to be the first one in South Carolina. We're super excited about it.

Lisa RichartHernandez  3:08  
Oh, wow. That's really great. Pickleball is a big thing right now. So I was huge. Dang. Yeah, I heard you say pickleball courts. I was like, oh, that's everybody wants that. Now, it seems like they're supposed to be building a big pickleball place actually in Mount Pleasant pretty soon. So it's all the rage, I guess.

Lori Albers  3:27  
It is hear a lot about him. Yeah, yeah.

Lisa RichartHernandez  3:30  
So I think he told me that there's like lakes and walking trails, dog parks, playground, that kind of thing.

Lori Albers  3:37  
There are we've got miles of walking trails, dog parks for small and large dogs. We've got the playgrounds. We've got currently a pool now. So when we add the new amenity, we'll have a second pool there for our community.

Lisa RichartHernandez  3:54  
Okay, about how many homes are in this community.

Lori Albers  3:57  
Right now we've got about 600 homes, we plan to add 1000 Plus more, because we are going to be adding a 55 plus community in Karns as well, which is called the horizons.

Lisa RichartHernandez  4:09  
Oh, wow. So there's a lot of people looking for 55 plus communities. So can you tell me a little bit more about that.

Lori Albers  4:17  
So this is a development that they've currently have up in our summers corner community, which is a very popular product for people. It's going to be introduced here, they say over the next two years, which is going to allow, you know, floor plans to accommodate our 55 Plus community out there. We don't currently have plans on site yet that are going to show what we're going to offer in Karns. But I know you know where it's going to be located in the community and that is coming is going to be called the horizons which you can see online through our summers corner community what the Horizons is about.

Lisa RichartHernandez  4:57  
Okay, that's exciting, right? Now with the people that are moving, it's mostly people that are either a retiring and looking to downsize or moving into the area. So I'm sure that'll be a hot seller also,

Lori Albers  5:09  
for sure, just in the location that we're adding cards, we've got medical facilities, general facilities, we've got shopping, residents, restaurants, just outside the community. We've got the Roper hospital just around the corner. So gives every age group you know what they need. And just within your community, we've got two schools, we've got our newest K through eighth grade that will open this August. And then we also have Northwood Academy, a Christian Academy private school on site as well. Okay, so people were super excited about that to be able to walk to school.

Lisa RichartHernandez  5:47  
Yeah, so the elementary school when is that supposed to open? In August? Okay, so next school year?

Lori Albers  5:53  
Yes, it's almost done. It's right there in our community, which is going to be again, K through eighth and there's a entrance that comes off of one seven, u six, eventually that will feed into the school. But for now that's going to be fed right through our community and current.

Lisa RichartHernandez  6:14  
Wow. Wow, that's gonna be a huge development and lots of stuff. fast growing area. Yeah. Wow, I didn't realize it another 1000. We're going up there. I swear. There's so much growth in Charleston right now. I literally just, I'll say, Oh, I gotta go to West Ashley today. And I'll drive over there and say, Wait, when did they build this whole entire apartment? It's kind of the same up there. And that Goose Creek and Somerville area. It's really, really growing.

Lori Albers  6:38  
Same way.

Lisa RichartHernandez  6:39  
You said there's a bunch of restaurants and stuff. What is their new restaurants up that way?

Lori Albers  6:43  
There are because our community is that off of North Main Street in Somerville. Oh, okay. So we've got Mexican restaurants East Bay deli, Jersey, Mike's we've got a bar and grill we've got hair salon nail salon. Some coffee. Yes. And then we're also adding a Publix in the community.

Lisa RichartHernandez  7:09  
Oh, that's great. Well, wow.

Lori Albers  7:11  
It's closed, the price has been closed on but the development will probably be, you know, a year

Lisa RichartHernandez  7:16  
plus out. Okay. So tell us about what inventory you have what price point? Give me some details on that. Sure. So

Lori Albers  7:26  
we have 13 different floor plans to choose from going from 2200 square feet up to 3200 square feet. And as far as price points we're going to start these are finished prices obviously because you know Lunars and everything included builder. Okay, there's no hassle pricing, they know exactly what the price is when they leave. So going from 460,000 up to 540,000.

Lisa RichartHernandez  7:54  
Okay, so explain what all inclusive builder is because I think a lot of our listeners are will be like what does that mean? Like, because I have as a buyer's agent but worked with different builders in the past and they're like, Oh yeah, the doorbell is not included. You know, the grass isn't included. Like all the things like seriously like that seems like a basic thing. So what is what does that mean all inclusive,

Lori Albers  8:18  
so that everything included is Linari includes the most desired features at no additional cost to our buyers, so their home is going to be complete for them to move into and not have to add anything. So in my community, everything included is going to be you know, our fireplaces, your flooring, your landscape packages, irrigation systems, everything that our buyers are going to need to move into that home is going to be there and then after that with our pricing price the way it is and they don't have to have the hassle of going to a design center. They can customize their home after closing because everything that they need is there.

Lisa RichartHernandez  9:03  
Okay, so like it comes standard I'm assuming with like granite countertops and like

Lori Albers  9:09  
yes, so currently today we have quartz countertops in our kitchens and our bathrooms. Okay, our owner suites are going to have tile showers. up to the ceiling. We've got dual shower heads, frameless glass shower doors, the all of our homes are hardy plank siding. They currently are all smart homes with a home automation packages. Oh wow, that's good. All of those.

Lisa RichartHernandez  9:38  
Yes, that's cool.

Lori Albers  9:40  
It is. And as far as the other portion of the everything included, you know Lunars got their own lender. We've got our own title company. We've got our own home insurance company. And my goal is to bring a potential home buyer in and And I narrowed them down to one plan. And then once we determine that plan, we will find them the specific home site, and then I'll give them a sales price. And then the end of my journey with them for their visit is I'm gonna give them a payment before they leave. Oh, that's webinars, you know, goal is for me to find them a home home site, price and payment.

Lisa RichartHernandez  10:24  
Okay, well, that's great. That's great. Yes. Now, how, like, what's your inventory? Like, like, say someone, a new buyer walks in with their agent, and we come and sit down with you, and and you say, Okay, I want this floor plan on this, you know, this lot or whatever, what's, what's our build time? What are we looking at for like how soon?

Lori Albers  10:46  
So we currently have two February completion homes. And then I have homes through February all the way through June right now. And we're in the process of, you know, our July, August builds are under construction currently. Okay, so in our is a SPEC builder. So what we do is, they build the homes, and then we can accommodate, you know, any buyer for any timeframe. That's one of my big things when I first meet with somebody is their timing. Yeah, because Lunars sales are first in first out, so we like to sell the ones that are not the furthest along, ready to

Lisa RichartHernandez  11:31  
go, right? Yes. And yeah. So do you have any incentives right now for for new homebuyers? Like, are you? Are you helping with closing costs or any upgrades? Or how does that work? Do you have anything available?

Lori Albers  11:42  
Yes. So on my quick moving inventory, we have a $45,000 incentive. So the That's February inventory, so that $40,000 can be used to decrease the price of the home, there's a $5,000 closing costs incentive that if they use Lenore mortgage, we offer that closing cost incentive. And our lender is working with our buyers to use that $40,000 incentive how it needs to be used, whether it is towards the price of the home, or if they were to want to buy rates down, it can be used that way as well. But what I like to do is when I price my my potential buyer, I'll do it with the full discount, and then I'll do it with some closing cost adjustments, but I would get them in front of my lender, Todd works on site with me as well. And then they can narrow down exactly how the financing needs to

Lisa RichartHernandez  12:40  
work. Yeah, a lot of buyers are doing that now, you know, people that were afraid to buy with the interest rates going up, I've noticed a lot of a lot of builders giving incentives, and then the buyers are actually using those to what we call buy down the rate. So we can That's correct. So just to explain for our listeners that like buying down the rate means you'll take some of that $40,000 And you pay a certain amount of money to like instead of have a five and a half percent interest rate, you'll have a 5% interest rate, you're kind of paying that interest upfront, but it helps you with your monthly payments and what you can afford also. Right? That is correct.

Lori Albers  13:18  
Okay. Yes, you explained that correct. And we can work on that, you know, during the process of the new home build. And typically our buyers are coming in and buying homes that are framed, obviously so some of the buyers are going to come in and have a little more time here to get prepared for the closing. Then we have some buyers that come in and like right now we can sell a February clothes home up until February 17. Oh, wow. So they are cut off using winnaar. Mortgage.

Lisa RichartHernandez  13:51  
That's that's a pretty quick close. February, right. Yeah, yeah. Well, that's good.

Lori Albers  13:57  
And then inventory moving forward beyond February, we still offer the $5,000 closing cost assistance, okay with any lender or mortgage on any of our homes.

Lisa RichartHernandez  14:09  
Okay. So how about if somebody has a home that they need to sell, like, in they want to buy, you know, one of the new construction ones that's like, do you allow any home sale contingencies?

Lori Albers  14:23  
Unfortunately, at this point, we do not. Okay. Well, we do for home to close contingencies.

Lisa RichartHernandez  14:30  
So if it's under contract already. That's right. Okay. Okay. And just to let people know, I was like, this is as an aside just about our whole real estate market right now. I was looking this morning in the MLS, and we're down to 2500 active listings, which is really, really low inventory. We normally have around 5500 to 6000 in a normal, quote unquote, normal market. And I narrowed that down for homes that were built like before 1920 You're 21. And that reduced it down to only 1500 active listings. So people have homes to sell, like we can make that happen for them so they can buy a new construction home, we can still do that. And you could use some of those incentives for that. So that's days on market have gone up a little bit. But in reality there, it's still like a very good market for sellers.

Lori Albers  15:22  
Yes. And that's Lunars plan is to have inventory homes up and available for buyers in all of our communities. So we've got several communities that have inventory that are just they continue to build and build the market seen some people say are slowing down. Our community is averaging about 20 sales a month. Oh my gosh is Castro's right now.

Lisa RichartHernandez  15:48  
What would you say? Like when when in so I'm sure people are just walking in off the street here. You have a model home up there, correct? Yes, we do. Yeah. Okay. I imagine people are just walking in off the streets without their agents. But you do work with buyer's agents? And

Lori Albers  16:04  
of course we do. Yes. And we do offer a 3% co broke. Okay, compensation. Okay, so we welcome all of our Realtors, but there are a lot of buyers that come in, is, obviously notice a certain age group now that they do their research themselves. They come in and they they mentioned the plan name. They mentioned the address. Yeah. And like, well, you've done your research. So those buyers, you don't have to have a realtor, again, we welcome all of them in. But if they do come in without an agent, we do the same job whether they had an agent or they didn't. I gotcha. So we can make it as smooth for them as possible. Whether they do or they do not have a realtor.

Lisa RichartHernandez  16:50  
Gotcha. So let's see, you said you've got 13 different floor plans do you have are they like mostly all two stories like two car garage type of a style or

Lori Albers  17:01  
so we had two collections. One collection is called our row collection. Those are going to be more of the Charleston single style with a detached garage. They're all going to be two stories. We have a couple of those plans with the owner suite on the main floor. And then we have a coastal collection which is five of our floor plans. The coastal collection has attached garages. Those are our newest plans they've never been built before. So Carnes Crossroads is the first community to build those homes. So if you haven't seen those, that they're definitely a must see 10 foot ceilings on the main floor nines on the second beautiful, wide open, you know, floor plans, allowing for you know, nice if you're entertaining people, you got the big open spaces we do in that collection have one single level plan that can opt to have a bonus room or not. So that plan is that one story is actually a four bedroom four bath. Oh, wow. All of our homes are equipped with several bathrooms, which is kind of a not not seen before.

Lisa RichartHernandez  18:15  
Wow. Yeah, that's great. Okay, spaces, four bedroom, four bath. One story. I'm in like, ready to retire?

Lori Albers  18:23  
Yeah. So we go from three bedrooms up to five beds, four and a half baths.

Lisa RichartHernandez  18:30  
Okay. Okay. So are you seeing a lot of people coming in from out of state? Like, who are your buyers? Are they? Are they more local people are what are you? What are you finding? Just out of curiosity, I

Lori Albers  18:41  
looked at a report yesterday, and it's kind of slipped down the middle. I have, yes. A lot of people here for Volvo, Boeing, BMW Mercedes,

Lisa RichartHernandez  18:53  
because a lot of jobs going up that way. Yes. And

Lori Albers  18:57  
then, you know, our military because they're in the vicinity where they can be there. And with, you know, the price of our homes, compared to what, you know, has been around us for so long. We're able to serve, you know, all buyers. But we when we looked at that we've got a great split of people that are actually coming in, and those again, those people coming in or people that are getting jobs here, and then the other portion, we're doing retirements and move UPS just within the Somerville area. Yeah, that's great. That's great. Because everyone's been waiting for cars to take off. It's been let's community started about 10 years ago. And it had, you know, multiple builders in there at that point, but Linari came in and they do that exclusive thing and just get things going so that we can get homes built for people that are ready to move.

Lisa RichartHernandez  19:52  
That's awesome. So when our will be the ones finishing out those additional 1000 homes. Yes. Wow, that is correct. Well, it sounds like you're gonna be a bit The sales girl for a long time.

Lori Albers  20:01  
Yeah. And we are there seven days a week. Okay, and there's multiple new home consultants in each community. So we're always there and available and ready to help somebody.

Lisa RichartHernandez  20:14  
Awesome. Awesome. Well, Laurie, thank you so much for your time. Today, I'm gonna put in the show notes, how you can contact Laurie or you can always contact me, I'd be happy to bring you up there and show you the neighborhood. And anything else you want to share with us. Before we say goodbye.

Lori Albers  20:33  
Um, no, just I'm gonna get my contact information out there. And I'll be happy to take you around on the golf cart show you things give you tours of all the models. We are currently in a temporary model in Carnes crossroads. But we are going to have a grand opening event in March that we're going to introduce three of our homes that are going to be models in staged. So we look forward to having anyone come out at any time.

Lisa RichartHernandez  20:59  
Oh, that sounds great. I love model homes. That's like my favorite thing to do. I love going to work every day. Oh, no. That's so cool. All right. Well, thank you so much, Laurie, thanks. We'll talk to you soon. And to all our listeners, please like and share this podcast and check out the show notes and check out Laurie at Luminar. Coastal Carolina's thanks. Thank you.

Outro  21:26  
Thanks for listening to another episode of living in Charleston podcast. We hope you're inspired to come back. Grab yourself a cool iced tea and listen to the next episode. Don't forget to share this with your friends, like comment, and feel free to reach out directly to Lisa at living in Charleston podcast.com. If you have any questions about the area, looking to move, or want to be in our next episode

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