Opting for new home construction
Whether to buy an existing home or have one built is yet another decision to make during the home-buying process. If you decide to go with new construction, a real estate agent can be a powerful advocate in your corner as you negotiate upgrades, a move-in date and other terms with the home builder.
Below are some basic pointers to prepare you for the journey ahead.
Selecting a builder
Shopping for a large production or custom home builder can be a daunting task. Start by defining what architectural styles appeal to you and then seek out the builders in your area who offer those styles. Due diligence is essential. Ask friends for referrals to get firsthand accounts; verify the builder’s state license status, if applicable; and check whether they’re certified by the National Association of Home Builders.
The builder representative and your REALTOR®
A builder representative’s ultimate goal is to sell you a home. His or her role is to provide a wide range of information to help you in your decision-making, from building restrictions, roads and easements to inspections, warranties, rebates and upgrades. A real estate agent knowledgeable in new-home construction will be able to help you wade through all the data and point out the downsides and upsides of each line item. Your agent also can look out for your interests in reviewing the builder’s contract, which often contains more legal jargon than consumer-friendly language.
It’s all about timing
Market conditions greatly dictate a builder’s incentive to make a deal you cannot refuse. When a builder has inventory on his hands, his carrying costs start adding up. When this happens, a builder might be more amenable to strike a favorable deal, whether it’s throwing in upgrades or taking a bit off the asking price. A real estate agent can help you know when market conditions are right for these benefits. Also, watch for builder close-out sales. Builders promote these special events when a new subdivision is near completion but empty inventory still remains.
A word about paying up
While there are always exceptions, most builders require a deposit when a purchase agreement is signed. They also require that the buyer pay for any upgrades prior to closing. If you back out prior to closing, unless the agreement states otherwise, you will lose that money. Make sure you understand every detail in the builder’s contract before signing it.
Beazer
From the Ground Up.
Whether this is your first home or last, Beazer makes it
easy to buy and easy to love. We utilize nine
generations of experience to provide guidance and
support throughout the buying process, from
personalizing the home of your dreams to connecting
you with the right lender for your needs.
Blue Heron
We believe building a home should be a seamless process. This innovative and integrated design/build approach to business is evident in the creative and distinctive homes Blue Heron produces. You should feel confident that the entire team involved in the design and build of your home is working together with the same vision in mind. The level of integrated design-and-build services that Blue Heron offers is unparalleled. From the architect to interior designer, general contractor, landscape and pool designer, Blue Heron’s full range of services will make sure you get an exquisite home.
DR Horton
Of livable and affordable new homes built with unmatched efficiencies and uncompromising quality. Of family traditions passed on to new generations. Of a business that would grow by making customers’ dreams a reality.
That philosophy of creating value every step of the way was the Company’s signature focus when Horton unveiled his first neighborhood in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area over three decades ago. As the Company grew from a local homebuilder, to a regional homebuilder, to ultimately the largest homebuilder in the United States, that philosophy has never wavered.
KB Homes
Great new-home neighborhoods. Innovative home designs. Amazing upgrades already built in. And peace of mind you’ll get with the KB Home 10-Year Limited Warranty. A quick move-in KB home reflects our commitment to quality construction, energy efficiency and industry-leading customer satisfaction. Visit one of these great KB Home communities today. A great, new, move-in ready KB home is waiting for you.
Lennar
Lennar has homes available in the most popular locations in the Las Vegas Valley including, Summerlin, Henderson, Green Valley, Providence, Mountain’s Edge, Southern Highlands and more! From our diverse floorplans to our Everything’s Included® packages, we offer something for everyone. Single story, two story and even three story homes are available. Lennar’s Next Gen® – The Home Within a Home® is an award winning multi-generational home that offers a private suite, built specifically for how families live today.
Pardee
Since 1921, Pardee Homes has been providing smart solutions to homebuyers and civic leaders, with great locations, quality construction, community partnerships and industry–leading green and safe building practices.
We’re both honored and humbled by the many awards we’ve won as a company, including the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Corporate Advocate of the Year, for green and sustainable building practices and grassroots activities that aim to help transform the home building industry; Builder magazine’s America’s Best Builder, for overall performance by a homebuilding company and the Hearthstone Builder Humanitarian Award for a lifetime commitment to philanthropy. We are proud of our corporate accomplishments, but our neighborhood awards perhaps speak even more directly to our commitment to our customers – to build great homes and create wonderful communities.
Pulte
Experience Life Tested®
We continually reach out to home buyers and Pulte homeowners to get feedback to improve our home designs. It’s what we call Life Tested.®
New ideas for our homes come from our homeowners
No wasted space typically found in older homes and more usable space where everyone spends the most time
Rooms you’ll use every day, not just once a year
Richmond America
The vision
Our dream is to help people from coast to coast attain the American Dream. Though we’ve built thousands of homes over the years, we haven’t lost sight of that vision. We are laser focused on building smartly designed, energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of today’s homebuyers.
With us, it’s personal.™
It’s not just a tagline. It’s the personal approach we take to every aspect of the homebuying experience. Need to move now? We’ve got quick move-in homes that can be ready on a shorter timeline. Want to personalize your home from the ground up? You’ll work hand-in-hand with a design consultant to select your home’s fixtures and finishes.
Ryland
In 1967, Ryland Homes founder James P. Ryan and his partner, Bob Gaw, created The James P. Ryan Company. In the first year, they built 48 homes in the nation’s first master-planned community in Columbia, Maryland. Nearly three years and 700 homes later, the company became Ryland Homes – a combination of “Ryan” and “Maryland” true to the company’s roots. Today, more than 45 years and 310,000 homes later, we still remain true to our foundation and maintain a tradition of excellence.
We build each home with our customers in mind by taking into consideration what is important to you; that is why we work with you to personalize every aspect of your new home in the MyStyle® Design Centers. Choose from a variety of finishes – from countertops to flooring, and lighting to paint colors, your home will be perfectly tailored to your taste, budget and lifestyle. Our HouseWorks® program helps ensure that your home is energy efficient and Earth friendly by utilizing products that keep your energy costs low, make your home comfortable and ensure a minimal effect on the environment.
Toll Brothers
At Toll Brothers, we believe that preserving the natural environment is an integral part of creating a community you’ll be proud to call home. That means everything from environmentally sensitive planning to energy-efficient home design. Nationwide, Toll Brothers partners with conservation groups that include the National Wildlife Federation and Audubon International. In addition, the homes we build are designed to harmonize with the scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape. We preserve as much open space as possible, incorporating and even restoring the existing hills, trees, and ponds. Our homes include numerous green features that help to minimize our impact on the environment. By going green with a new Toll Brothers home, you’ll be saving money, making a difference, and maximizing your quality of life.