In today's market you can even buy homes for less than builder cost. This may never happen again in our lifetime.

However, understanding the buying process with a new home builder is critical.

I recommend you follow these 10 steps.

1. Find the City - virtually every town and city has new home construction  so you don't have to leave friends , families and/or ask your children to change schools
2. Find the Community - within each city, you have several communities offering different amenities and lifestyles.
3. Find the Builder - in Phoenix, there are more than 100 different semi-custom home builders to choose from. All offering different products with individual focus on quality.
4. Locate the home site - this is an under looked aspect to the process.  Location, location, location.
5. Evaluate the Site  - views, window lighting, direction of sun for pool, privacy from neighbors are all key ingredients to happiness and long-term appreciation
6. Get an appraisal - critical. A good real estate agent should recommend you get a buyers appraisal. $350 is a small price to pay to insure you are getting a fair price or a great deal.
7. Financing - builders offer in house financing. However, it is not a requirement. Compare rates and payments. How you finance a home can be as important as the price your
8. Design Center - you should have several meetings with the builders design center to choose paints, flooring , cabinets and fixtures. Make sure you go to homes that have the products installed. They look a lot different in a home than in the design center.
9. Follow Construction Process- Have regular meetings at the home site with your agent and the site superintendent. Make sure you realized mistakes sooner than later. Before they are difficult to revers.
10. Install Pool & Landscaping - Do not forget! too many homes were purchased uncompleted. You will Never do this later. Include landscaping and pool in your loan.

Work with an agent who specializes in new home Construction.