New Construction tips for First Time Homebuyers in Jacksonville Florida
When my husband and I got engaged we knew marriage for us meant moving out of an apartment and buying our first home. We knew nothing about what it meant to buy or own a home. (I was a buyer for Stein Mart at the time and not a Realtor so I was as inexperienced as any first time homebuyer.) With our Realtors help, we decided on new construction because the location of the neighborhood was central to both of our jobs.
New construction is more challenging than buying a resale home for any homebuyer but especially so for a first time homebuyer.
When you build a home you make almost all the decisions – you aren’t seeing a home as it sits on the lot with all the decorations, fixtures, electrical outlets, cabinets, etc.
Building a new home means identifying the right floor plan, what lot it should go on and then making 100s of decisions about it in just a few hours. I’ve heard it takes 3 home moves until you are in the home you think you can grow old in and of course this is in part because experience owning other homes is always a benefit.
When you’ve already owned a home you’ll know whether you need a raised vanity because your back hurts when you bend over the sink to wash your face or whether you need an open kitchen so when you entertain you don’t feel like your stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is watching a movie or playing a game.
So here are some tips for building.
First, identify the community you want to live in and next identify the builder you want to use.
You’ve heard before LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. This applies not only to the part of town you build in but also where the home is located within the community. We tell our clients, “You can’t pick a home up and move it but you can change things inside.” If there is a premium for a better lot – one on a cul-de-sac or with a view, SPEND THE MONEY!!!
Next, put your money into the floor plan and not upgrades that can be done later. What I mean is spend the money on the bonus room where you can add square footage for the least amount of money. There are two reasons for this; if you're like most people you WILL out grow your space. Two because when you go to sell, value will be determined first using $/square foot before they even look at lot location and upgrades.
If you are thinking about building a new home in the Jacksonville area, use a Realtor. Using a Realtor, costs a buyer NOTHING but the experience we bring is PRICELESS. Builders build marketing costs into their company expenses and not into the cost of the home. Choose an experienced and competent Realtor who has guided others through new construction AND make sure they will be available to you when you go to the design center. For this reason alone, having a Realtor will be invaluable. Realtors will be able to help you focus on not only what will be important to your own needs but also what will help you when you go to sell. (In my case, our Realtor didn't go to the design center and
we picked green formica countertops!!) 
So if you are thinking of building your first home, give us a call. We can keep you from choosing green formica counters!!! We'll hold you hands until the keys are in them.
If you are thinking about buying or building in Julington Creek Plantation, Durbin Crossing
or the surrounding areas contact your Jacksonville Realtors for Life -- Jami Shapiro and Erica Jolles at (904) 201-9276.
To learn more about us and how we can help with all of your Real Estate needs visit www.JaxRealEstateForLife.com
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