Looking for the Right PRICE or the Right HOME? Remember to Make the Place You Live, the Place You Love

How does today's homebuyer select their new home? How do they decide what neighborhood is right for them? What floor plan fits your lifestyle? What neighborhood is BEST for their family? Is it really about finding the right price? Or is about finding the right home? How about BOTH!

These are some of the questions facing prospective homebuyers today. There's much more at stake than finding a home based on price. In the big picture, shouldn't finding the place that's best for your family and where you'll be happy be in the mix? Since 1972, East West Partners have been developing quality neighborhoods for people to live and play. We've studied the trends of new homeowners and we've tried to adapt to the changes in the marketplace. The answers depend on several aspects and they vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Folks buying homes in Downtown Norfolk are looking for different features and conveniences to people moving into a planned community with resort-styled amenities like Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, or The Riverfront at Harbour View which are removed from the city. There are also 7-10 builders at each community offering competitive pricing and a variety of home plans.

One thing that today's buyers are demanding however, is quality and dependable customer service. Surveys show that today's buyer select new home plans and neighborhoods that offer them the best value and are places they are the most comfortable. Many are searching for more intimate informal spaces such as keeping rooms located off of kitchens, a cozy family room with coffered ceilings, or a covered back porch - a place to relax and watch their children play in the backyard. Formal living rooms are also being replaced by home offices in many of the newer homes. More attention is being paid to backyards as well because families have rediscovered backyard patios and outdoor fireplaces.

 

Homebuyers are also more educated today because their shopping habits have changed. Research shows that over 92% of today's homebuyers search the internet for their next home before they visit the site. They know more about the neighborhood, their amenities, and the floor plans that some realize. It's one reason why communities like Founders Pointe, The Riverfront, Liberty Ridge, and Eagle Harbor have implemented an Interactive Site Plan feature to their websites. Prospective buyers can click on every homesite and see what home plan is under construction, what the view of the homesite is, and see photos of the home and streetscape.

 

People seem to be more cautious about their purchase and they're looking for more than just square footage. They want to know more about the Seer rating on their HVAC unit, energy efficiency, and what are the actual savings of your "green" features? Homebuyers still care about the kitchen appointments, the functionality of the home plan, and also the fun aspect of the neighborhood. Leisure trails and parks are several of the neighborhood amenities requested in recent surveys along with a clubhouse for activities, socials, and a place to meet your neighbor.

Shopping for a new home should be fun, our site agents need to make the home shopping experience memorable. Get the homebuyer emotionally involved, what is your unique selling proposition and differential advantages that will appeal to the buyer. It's not always about PRICE!

Although there are trends happening in the marketplace, everyone seems to value something different. Each location has its advantages and differences. The important thing is to think about the ones that you find the most important and then remember to "make the place you live, the place you love".

For more information about quality custom homes in the Hampton Roads or Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, visit www.founderspointe.com, www.the-riverfront.com, or www.eagleharborva.com .