5 Advantages of Building a New Home
Today’s home buyer/builder is feeling an "age crunch" to get on with missed years of building a dream home and living the “dream life” they had planned. Today, it makes sense to purchase or build where you want to retire, even though you may still be planning to work for years to come. The Lowcountry of South Carolina is an ideal destination, with affordability and opportunities in abundance! There has never been a better time to build here than now.
Advantages of Building A New Home
According to a recent Trulia survey, twice as many people prefer new homes to existing homes. While existing homes have the advantage of architectural charm and sizable lots, and are generally located in more established neighborhoods, a conscientious home builder is aware of that, and goes to a great deal of effort to add character and authenticity to their projects. For example, at Coastal Signature Homes, we offer reclaimed hardwood floors with wood salvaged from the textile mills of North Carolina and Virginia. They are every bit as durable as new, but have character and style that adds instant appeal.
1. Floor Plans Designed For the Way We Live Today
One the biggest advantages of buying a new construction home is that they are designed and built for today's lifestyle. Today, more than ever, home builders are offering buyers the ability to customize their home with a vast number of options. Lighting, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, wall coverings, paint colors, even landscaping can often be selected from a wide variety of choices. Some of the choices are considered upgrades and will add to your base price, but now builders are adding options that are still considered part of the original price package. You'll be moving into a home that's customized for you! Coastal Signature home plans have Flex Space, which can easily and inexpensively be changed to meet the changing need of you and your family. Today’s home office can become tomorrow’s FROG suite (Finished Room Over the Garage).
2. Energy Efficient
Utilizing new construction materials, just-built homes are more energy efficient - and that means lower utility bills. Consider this: a 20 year old HVAC system is 250% LESS EFFICIENT than a new one. New technologies, like digital thermostats and on-demand water heaters could save you thousands over the course of the years you live in the home.
3. Less Maintenance and Repair, More Free Weekends
Most newly constructed homes come with a builder’s warranty, included in the price, but you have to pay extra for a warranty on a “used” home. Another big financial benefit to a new home is that you won't have significant maintenance for quite a while. With modern, new appliances, plumbing, HVAC, you should be able to live repair-free for a years. You won't be spending all your weekends at home renovation stores trying to tackle that "honey-do" list of home improvements. That will keep your weekends free and save you money!
4. Financial Advantage
When you buy new from a reputable and established builder, you are able to finance your selected upgrades into the purchase price and mortgage amount, spreading the expense over time. When you purchase an older home, you will have to secure a mortgage, buy the home, and then begin renovations with separate funds, usually coming directly out of your pocket. New construction, however, allows you to make your choices of upgrades and additions and have those costs incorporated into the overall purchase price of the home.
5. Easier On Your Relationship
While buying a home is never stress free, buying a new home helps you avoid stressful renovations and upgrades that come along with buying an older home, including the strain it can put on your relationship. In fact, according to a survey by Houzz, twelve percent of couples admitted to considering a separation or divorce during remodeling!
In conclusion, the reasons for buying or building a home have changed significantly since the Recession, but home ownership is still a necessary and wise objective.
Economic downturns are stressful and typically increase people’s desire for simplicity. Even affluent consumers are simplifying and taking stock of their long-term needs, and they desire a simpler and less excessive (hence, less expensive and less stressful) life.
Life moves along no matter what the economy decides to do. You can still have the “American Dream,” but the dream has changed… for the better. I believe that consumers coming out of the recession will, like their great-grandparents who lived through the Great Depression, carry the attitudes and behaviors they learn now throughout the remainder of their lives. For the foreseeable future, we will value quality over quantity. It will serve you well to keep this in mind when buying or building a home.