The average cost of building a new house can range between $165,563 and $474,977, and it could save you up to 15% in comparison to buying an existing home — but what do you know about the new construction homebuying process? Have you weighed all the pros and cons of buying new? Are you even sure new construction is right for you?

We are going to answer all of those questions and walk you through the new construction homebuying process. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have a better understanding of the ins and outs of buying brand new and whether or not this is something you’d like to pursue.

New construction homebuying process: Pros and cons of buying new

Stephen Cooley, a top-selling real estate agent in North Carolina with 31 years of experience, comments, “New homes come with the latest trends, and they are typically maintenance-free for the first 10 years. If there’s a problem in the first year, most builders offer a toll-free number where you get someone that represents the builder to fix the home.”

New construction also means the house and everything in it will be more energy-efficient. There will be modern windows installed in the home, better insulation, more efficient heating and cooling, and even appliances that use less electricity and water.

2. New construction means the building is built to today’s standards

People marvel at the craftsmanship and detail of older homes… but remove the sheetrock to inspect the electrical work or crawl under the house to inspect the plumbing, and you’re likely to find some issues. Sadly, the problems you find are going to be pretty costly — at least a couple thousand dollars per repair.

Even if there aren’t any significant problems, before you can buy the house, a home inspector will require the sellers to bring the house up to code. Worse yet, you could be purchasing a renovated house with unpermitted work, which can open up a whole other can of worms. New construction eliminates that possibility because builders are required to follow today’s energy and code requirements.

3. You can personalize the house to suit your tastes

When you buy an existing home, you should expect to spend a pretty penny to renovate the kitchen (Home Depot estimates a “minor” remodel averages $20,80, and a “major” remodel averages $62,200). Maybe you want to replace the flooring throughout the house because you wish for mahogany bamboo flooring instead of carpeting and laminate.

Any work you do to turn an existing home into your home is going to cost you. New construction allows you to choose the finishes that you want, therefore eliminating the added cost you’d have to pay to renovate.

Cons of new construction

1. You have to vet the builders

As with everything else in this world, if you want to be sure that you’re hiring someone who is going to their job and do it well, you need to vet the people that you’ll be working with. If you don’t do your research, you could wind up with a newly constructed house that is riddled with problems, code violations, and more, so do research on any builders you interview.

2. Personalization can get expensive

As you’re looking through a model home, you have to keep in mind that it’s going to have the best features, fixtures, and appliances the builder has to offer.

“Buyers have to remember that the design center is a profit center for the vendors; builders and buyers can get very carried away when visiting the center because they’re adding things to the base price,” explains Cooley.

3. Move-in date isn’t guaranteed

On average, building a home from start to finish will take approximately six months, but some things can hold up production, such as material shortage, bad weather, or issues with the crew. All of these things can stall your move-in date, which is problematic if you’re counting on moving within a particular timeframe.

Step-by-step guide to the new construction homebuying process

Although you do have the option of buying new construction without a real estate agent representing you, it’s recommended that you find a buyer’s agent; Cooley explains why:

“When you walk in a new construction site, that on-site agent that’s working in that model home, they’re friendly and nice — they do not represent the buyer. They’re representing the builder, and it’s their job to get the builder top dollar and under the best conditions.”

When choosing an agent to represent you on your new construction purchase, Cooley recommends asking the prospect:

• How many new construction homes have you sold?
• If you’re familiar with (prospective builder), how many of their homes have you sold?

Step 2: Work with a lender who’s familiar with new construction

If you aren’t paying cash for the build of your new home, you’re going to need a home construction loan. These loans are different than traditional mortgages because instead of doling out the entire amount of the loan, this loan is a short term loan that will allow for release advances (called “draws”) throughout the construction of the home.

Once the building is completed, the loan will either be converted into a traditional mortgage or your construction lender will require you to obtain a separate traditional mortgage.

Unfortunately, not all lenders offer this type of loan. Builders generally have a list of recommended lenders and may even entice you to use one of those lenders by reducing the price.

However, before signing with any lender, do your research! Make sure they have a good reputation, decent rates, excellent customer service, and that you understand how their construction loan product works from beginning to end.

Step 3: Research prospective builders

Naturally, you do not want to use the builder who has the cheapest rates because the saying “you get what you pay for” exists for a reason. Yes, builders are required to adhere to local building codes, but there’s more to choosing a builder than that.

Research the builder’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau or the state attorney general to see if they have any complaints filed against them. You can do this on other sites like Google My Business, Angie’s List, Yelp, and Facebook.

When you’re looking at the builder’s reviews and social media profiles, Cooley suggests buyers pay attention to how the builder communicates with someone who bought their home after closing. A good builder who stands behind their work will reach out to buyers and remedy any problems that may arise.

Step 4. Research the builder’s developments

There are two ways you could choose where your home will be built.

You could look for a reputable builder with designs that you like and buy a plot of land in one of their developments.

You also have the option of purchasing a piece of land in an area you like and look for a reputable builder who could build a house on that plot.

If you choose to go with the first option, think about what’s important to you. Is being close to public transportation a top priority? Do you want to be in a neighborhood that has amenities like a community gym, public pool, or a clubhouse? Maybe you have children and want to make sure they’re going to be enrolled in an excellent school system.

When you’re riding through a developer’s neighborhood, get out and walk around. Ask the people you meet about the area and their experience with the developer.

Don’t forget to ask if the development has an HOA. If so, what’s their experience with the members of the HOA board. Ask them how strict the rules are and about the fees for breaking them — those fees can be expensive and add up quickly!

Step 5: Choose your new home’s style

Step 9: Have the new home inspected

One would assume that if you’re buying brand new, it’s going to be problem-free, right? Wrong! Even if you hired the best builder in your area with the best reputation, there could still be some issues. That’s why it’s crucial to have a buyer’s agent who’s familiar with new construction homes — because they’ll know a home inspector who understands the process.

“Home inspectors go through the home a few times during the building process. They go through once when it’s framed. Then they’ll go through again before the sheetrock goes up. Then they will inspect the home when the builder says it’s finished and help them build a punch list [a list of tasks that need to be completed before the project is officially finished.] Once the builder completes the punch list, they inspect it one more time.”

Step 10: Sign and review the warranty documents

Warranties are a big part of the new construction homebuying process, and it’s important to know which type of warranty you will have. Builders offer one of two types of warranties:

• Implied warranties will cover workmanship defects that will have a significant impact on the home’s livability, habitability, and safety. These warranties typically have a 10-year liability period, and they tend to use vague language.
• Express warranties clearly define the problems the builder is responsible for fixing. This warranty will state the length of the warranty and how the homeowner should dispute issues.

A buyer’s agent who is knowledgeable in new construction homes will play an invaluable role during this period because they will be able to answer any questions you may have.

Wrapping up the new construction homebuying process

As closing day approaches, your buyer’s agent will walk you through the final steps of the new construction homebuying process. This consists of doing a final walkthrough, where the project manager will give you the rundown of all of the systems and features of your brand new house.

Then you’re going to have to get a money order or certified check for the final closing costs. This will include loan processing, title fees, recording the deed, insurance, taxes, and HOA fees, if applicable.

With your payment in hand, you can go to the closing table and get ready to sign a lot of documents. Once that’s all over, you are officially an owner of a brand-spanking-new home! How cool is that?!