Thinking about building a new home?
New Construction: There has never been a better time to build a new home. The rates are low and the builders have brought the prices down to compete in a slow market. I have established working relationships with Spec home builders such as Ryan, Heartland, Maronda, 
KHovanian, S&A, and Wayne Homes. I also have working relationships with custom home builders like Costa, Gowaty, Schumacher, and more. There are many reasons that you should use a realtor to explore your options and eventually introduce you to the builder that is right for you. Please start by reading on to see how using a Realtor for new construction can save you time, aggrivation, and money. Then browse the pages to learn about the different builders, developments, and new home building information. Please call me first so that I can work as your agent to communicate with the builders for you eliminating dozens of sales calls from the builder agents trying to get your business. Together, we will determine which builders best meet your criteria relative to price, construction, home type, home site, and location criteria. Then I will set an appointment with the sales manager for the site(s) that meet your criteria. My commission is always paid directly from the builder separate from your contract. Your home price is not affected by using an agent.
Why use an agent for new construction?… Read on.
Why should you use me as your real estate agent for NEW CONSTRUCTION? There are dozens of custom and spec home builders in this area. I have worked with them and have lear
ned the details of their building process, sales tactics, and policies that will ultimately affect you. I have a working knowledge of what communities might be right for you in regards to home price, taxes, school districts, “green space”, community rules, and if they have the type of lots to fit the home you want. Remember that these community sales managers get paid ultimately based on how many homes are sold. Some are salaried with quotas to meet for bonuses. Each one that you meet will call you as part of their job, to follow up and try to get you to buy their product. If you use me as your agent, I will give you unbiased advice and explain the different builders in detail to you ahead of an introduction. This will narrow the field to those builders that might be right for you. Then, I will personally introduce you to the managers of the communities that you might consider. Then the phone calls will come through me until we narrow the field even further to the one or two that you like the best. Then you begin the process of working one on one with the manager from the communities of your choice. My commission is always paid directly from the builder separate from your contract. Your home price is not affected by using an agent. In fact, using an agent could save you money as these managers send us all of the special promotions, rates, and discount home deals on a regular basis for distribution to our clients.
First, lets talk about spec home builders like Ryan, Heartland, KHovanian and others. Each of these builders have different processes of building homes. Some build the walls, roof trusses and other major components inside, then ship them to the job site for assembly. Others build the home board by board on site, this is called “stick built”. Some are strictly spec home builders with few optional changes and others are more like custom home builders allowing major changes to be reviewed for approval. Sometimes, depending on your lot, the time of year that the home will be built, and other factors may determine which building process is right for you.
These spec home builders also have different land development policies that may affect you. Some builders worry more about “Green Space” than others. Some take the time to be sure that the trees you see at the back of the lot and the beautiful view that is there before you build, stay long after you build. I will take the time to research any major roads, developments, or power line projects that might be in the works within the local politics. Some assure that the lots are level and large enough to allow for future improvements. Some communities allow pools, sheds, and detached garages, others do not.
What is really included in these “packages”? Some of these builders are “turnkey” and some leave you with all of the lot and site work, grading, driveways, and utility runs. It is very important to know how complete the house will be when considering the different prices a builder gives you. Items that you may think should be standard like garage floor drains, ample exterior outlets and hose bibs are not standard with all builders. The yard, landscaping, driveways, walkways and many other possible “add-ons” can add up to tens of thousands of extra dollars you didn’t initially count on. I know these builders and will tell you up front what to expect going in.
They all have different financing packages to offer you. Many of the larger builders have some great financing packages and incentives. Ultimately it is up to you who you use. I will offer unbiased advice on different types of loans.
Custom Home Builders are usually very flexible about working with you to build a home that is right for you. They usually provide a complete “turnkey” home leaving you with only the task of moving in. Although they are usually flexible in allowing you to do some of the work on your own to save some money. The custom home builders that I work with are all proven builders of quality built homes. Custom Home builders usually include many features as “standard” that are offered as “optional” with the spec home builders. Some that I work with offer ceiling “can lights”, trayed ceilings, archways, ample outlets, garage drains, and much more as “standard” items. You might be pleasantly surprised by the price as well.
Use the links at the right for builder websites and contact information. I will be more than happy to make an appointment with these builders for you. But if you decide to contact these builders yourself, please tell them that I referred you and let me know. In most cases, the only way I can offer you the Realtor benefits available with new construction is if I register you with your first visit.
How does the financing process work for new construction?
There are two ways to do this, one is to buy the lot outright and then use the lot as a downpayment on the home package. Typically, this is done when you can afford to pay cash for the lot and do not want to build right away. You don’t have to pay cash but it is very difficult to finance vacant land right now. The lenders that do are far and few between and their requirements make it difficult. They usually require alot of money down, sometimes as much as 50% down. Then, the lot would have to be deeded in your name for up to 6 months before you can use it as a downpayment on the house.
