Competition
among homebuilders makes new homes less likely to be overpriced. New homes
are easy to compare with other new homes in the market equating value to
value. All the homes are the same age and the options are listed up-front
with price breakdowns for comparative shopping. |
Securing
financing is the major obstacle to home ownership. Most homebuilders have
done the legwork for you. They have researched the market and negotiated
the best rates for their specific type of housing. Many homebuilders now
include the closing costs in the price of their new home. |
"Location,
Location, Location." Being able to select the proper homesite is almost
as important as choosing the correct home to fit the buyer's lifestyle.
Developers and homebuilders offer a wide selection of sites including golf
course, lake front, mountain preserve, mountain view, hillside, cul-de-sac,
view lots and more. |
In
most new communities, buyers will be moving in with neighbors in similar
circumstances. Often with pre-owned homes, the homebuyer finds themselves
in a difficult position as the "new kids on the block" unable to quickly
fit into long established social situations. |
Builders
of new homes offer a variety of functional floorplans to fit a buyer's requirements.
If it's not a "spec home", the homebuilder may provide the opportunity to
eliminate or add rooms, upgrade materials, include new architectural details
and generally customize the home. |
With
a new home, it's possible for the buyer to be "a decorator" before moving
in. Choices of carpet, wall coverings, paint colors, lighting fixtures,
window treatments, etc. enable the new home owners to live with their personal
selections and not be restricted by the taste of the previous owner. |
Appliance
manufacturers introduce new models every year and homebuilders are able
to offer the latest state-of-the-art equipment at the time of completion
of a new home. And, because the builder buys for the entire production of
new homes, the builder's purchasing power can reduce the cost to the home
buyer. |
Low
maintenance is one of the most important features of new homes being built
today. New technology in building materials has made the homes of the 1990s
virtually maintenance free, especially the exterior. No longer does a homeowner
have to worry about painting every 3 to 5 years. |
A
new home built today is required by law to meet stricter energy codes than
homes built in the past when legal codes didn't exist or were more lenient.
Many homebuilders use materials that are designed to exceed the strict limits
in order to produce further savings for their owners. |
New
home buyers are assured of at least a one year warranty on the home itself
and most likely five years on major appliances including air conditioning
and heating systems. Many of today's homebuilders extend structural warranties
for a full ten years usually underwritten by insurance companies. |
It
is true that all manufactured products have an expected life span. Daily
use, weather and quality of care all play a role in longevity. Buying a
new home eases the nagging question of "How long before it breaks down?"
With a new home the answer is simply, a substantially longer period. |
Statistics
say that the typical home will need remodeling after a life expectancy of
25-30 years. Since new homes have an assured longer life, appraisals will
generally be higher than on comparable existing homes, making the conditions
more favorable for future re-sale at appreciated prices. |