Special offer

Buy or Build? What Are YOU Going To Do?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Friends & Neighbors Real Estate RB14036506

You can Buy a Pre Owned Home at Top Dollar, we are in a Seller's Market, or Build A Home of YOUR own? You still have choices...

 

 

               

 

 

Yep, it is still snowing, and more cold weather yet to come, and only 21 Days left before our Spring Real Estate Market starts!

Buyer's with pre-qualifications started raising their hands last month.  The newly listed homes that are:

  • Priced Well
  • Ultra Clean
  • Updated

are already under contract, and all the other homes currently on the market? They are the ones that are priced incorrectly OR not updated OR not squeaky clean.  How do you find your next home?

 

 

I Want To Think It Over?

 

 

The probability of finding a pre-owned home that meets all your needs, every one of them, is hard in a Seller's Market.  Taking time to think it over for a day or two, or wanting to see it again with your trusted advisers, aka, Parents or Friends could very easily cost you the home you found. Think about this, if you really like a home, there will be others that like it too!

 

Building A New Home Takes Time!

 

There are lots of steps to take when considering a new home construction project. It will be an exciting experience to go over all the things you want in your next home:

 

 

Details Are My Specialty!

 

Having a knowledgeable, experienced Real Estate Agent representing you when building your Dream Home helps you:

 

  • Find A New Construction Lender
  • Discuss Your Wants and Needs
  • Put Those Wants and Needs on Paper
  • Find A Lot That Meets Your Needs
  • Research properties current use and zone
  • Research and verify legal description of property
  • Research neighboring properties for probably Property Tax Amount
  • Register you With Appropriate New Home Construction Builders
  • Explain Builder's Contract
  • Sell Your Existing Home, if You Have One
  • Choose The Best Builder for The Home You Want
  • Keep On Track
  • Meet Your Deadlines
  • Explain Contracts

Is there more? Yes! Real Estate Professionals will work in YOUR best interest, which is not the same as the Spec Home Representative, who may or may not be a REALTOR® at all, and ALWAYS works in the Builder's best interest!

 

Representing YOU as a new home construction buyer, is a FREE service to you. The Builder you select will pay your Buyer's Representative's commission.

 

To start the conversation about whether buying a pre-owned home or a new home construction project is in YOUR best interest, call Friends & Neighbors Real Estate at 574-304-7148. One of our trained professionals will be happy to sit down and talk to you at your convenience. After all, We are The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Excellent post Evelyn, I always get excited to hear about new construction.

Feb 09, 2016 12:00 PM
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

No kidding, that second look could cost the buyer a home. There is no time to wonder. Building takes time and it's a hard decision for some. I would love to build again!  

Feb 09, 2016 01:38 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

New construction definitely works for some people... and you are right about not waiting. If you see a house you want, take the plunge!

Feb 09, 2016 06:47 PM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Buyers in our area still don't realize the value of having a Realtor work for them in their own behalf. It doens't cost extra for it, and new construction sales reps work for the builder...not the buyer!

Feb 09, 2016 08:45 PM
Chris Lima
Turtle Reef Realty - Port St Lucie, FL
Local or Global-Allow me to open doors for you.

There's great information in this post.  I think building is a wonderful option for people that are not pressed for time.  For those that do have time constraints, there's always "ready to go" spec homes. The builder's incentives can sometimes make it worth the process and as always, speak with your Realtor.

Feb 09, 2016 09:51 PM
Evelyn Johnston

Our Builders do not have time to put up spec homes, they have downpayments and blueprints in various stages of progress.

Feb 10, 2016 10:52 AM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Getting into a custom lot and custom home is a monumental task.... Glad you are serving it....

Feb 09, 2016 11:13 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

The buyers who are taking time to think are losing out to buyers who have already prepared and are ready, willing and able to buy Evelyn Johnston 

Feb 09, 2016 11:47 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

What the new buyer's lifestyle, pocketbook look like can dictate how wise existing vs building goes in the flip the coin. Sell them something though. Have healthy inventory of all the price ranges, types, locations right Evelyn Johnston !

Feb 10, 2016 12:01 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

We have 'just so much buildable land' on this here island. So new homes, townhouses, condos are a dream...and at a huge price. Then you have to think about landscaping costs, walls, fences etc.  Our homes are so closely built that we have to have privacy barriers (ha) to think about.  Then, the inventory is so low in desirable areas that there is multiple offers on any one property. Yup, if you like it, chances are there are others who "LOVE" it too!  Great momentum to get those buyers off the fence!

Feb 10, 2016 02:45 AM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Evelyn Johnston ,  Congratulations on you "Feature".  With the increase of interested buyers, who are unable to find a home, now turning to home construction, it is more important for them to talk with a knowledgeable Real Estate Agent, who will represent them and guide them through the process. Cll Evelyn Johnston, a trained professional in home construction.

Feb 10, 2016 07:04 AM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

If I was thinking of having a home built in the Elkhart, IN area, I would be talking with real estate professional, Evelyn Johnston. She knows what needs to be considered when a buyer starts this process. 

Feb 10, 2016 07:42 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Evelyn Johnston 
Someone with your deep experience is what Buyers need - resale or new - they are smart to work with you! Lynn

Feb 10, 2016 09:38 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

I had buyers that were thinking of building until they realized the time involved and decided to buy a pre existing home and did some renovations to it.

Feb 10, 2016 11:41 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Always a question for some buyers Evelyn Johnston - and that is true for even current home owners.

It's a challenge for some buyers - they just can't decide! And that's why, detailed specialist like you can help them.

Feb 10, 2016 01:33 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

OMG Evelyn that could have been a speechless Sunday photo, loved it....on a side note great advice,Endre

Feb 10, 2016 03:15 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Evelyn, this is a great post for Buyers. So many people think they do not need a Realtor® to have a Builder provide their new home. If you study the builders contracts you will find most a written in favor of the builder. A good agent will help the Buyer sort through that so the playing field has been leveled.

Well done blog.

Feb 10, 2016 10:56 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Building your own home can be rewarding but also has lots of pitfalls.  Dealing with the county and city can be frustrating and come with sticker shock.  

Feb 11, 2016 06:23 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

HI Evelyn, Congratulations on the featured blog, many people have no idea how stressful building a house can be.

Feb 11, 2016 08:50 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

This is a great summation of the pros and cons.  There are various degrees to the new build too so there's even more layering to the question continues.  Is it a spec house, pre-sale, custom . . . the possibilities are endless.  You know your stuff Evelyn Johnston 

Feb 11, 2016 10:36 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Evelyn,

Great advice, and a great analysis of the pros and cons.  A

Feb 13, 2016 07:59 AM