Tips for Buying New Construction

Weigh the Pros and Cons

Nothing beats the feeling of being the first person to live in a newly-built home. Everything is shiny and untouched.

You can buy a brand-new home in one of three ways: buying a house already built on spec; having a semi-custom home built as part of a development (you can choose from a set palette of finishes and upgrades); or having a purely custom home designed and built to your specifications.

But before you get caught up in the sparkling new paint and granite countertops, evaluate your situation and see if new construction fits your lifestyle. Here are some questions to ask yourself, particularly if you fall within the first two methods of new-home buying:

New homes are typically far from the city center; will you mind the commute?

Are you willing to coax a new lawn into existence, and can you wait 20 years for sapling trees to mature?

Will the cookie-cutter nature of new subdivisions drive you bonkers?

New houses tend to be built right on top of each other. Do you mind the closeness and potential lack of privacy?