[quote author="25inIrvine"]So in the 90's, you also paid for landscaping on your yard? For example, Northwood Pointe or Westpark, or you can even use you a more recent development like Northpark or West Irvine if that you can.
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It was dependent on builder. Those older developments may have had basic front yard landscaping as part of the home but I am pretty sure the backyards were not landscaped. If you drive around any of these neighborhoods, you can tell if there was basic landscaping included as many people (FCBs) won't upgrade ANYTHING.
I guess my question is when is this "A time" you are referring to? I will admit, I never even thought of this cost!
I can tell you that when my relatives bought new in Orange County in the early 90s, landscaping was NOT included. Many of the Irvine projects in the late 90s did have some basic landscaping (Oak Creek and Harvard Square) but 2000 on it became more optional. I remember asking a sales office in mid 2000s about landscaping and they didn't even offer it as an option from their design center any more. As far as I know... most of the Woodbury SFRs (Juliet, Rossmoor, Mille Fleurs, Villa Rosa) don't include front yard landscaping.
The plus is like BK says... most of the new homes have very small front and back yards so the cost is a lot less than it used to be.
And another question, so say you buy one of these for 450k +25k landscaping + 10k upgrades. Is the finals sale prices 485k or just the 450k? What about tax basis?
This has been answered but if this is included in the final sales price from the builder, it would be $485k. If you did this afterwards, it would not be included unless for some reason you contacted the tax overlords and asked them to.
My advice... in this economy, I think you can get a bargain on landscaping service that will probably be 50% or more off the builder's service. It won't get financed into your loan... but it may only cost you $300 (BK's Landscape Company) vs $10,000.
And the cost to cement an 8x10 backyard is nothing. Low maintenance, save on water and pet/kid friendly.