Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, part of a growing family that needs something bigger, someone looking to relocate for work or school, or a retiree looking for a place to enjoy your golden years, there are a lot of reasons you should consider new homes for sale instead of older resale homes.
The median age of homes in the Austin, Texas area is nearly 30 years. This means that the average single-family home on the housing market in our region was built in 1990. Here at Santa Rita Ranch, new home construction is going on all the time. In fact, the typical new construction home at our master-planned community was completed in the last six months!
Why do we bring this up? To some, the 1990s were a very long time ago. Most first-time homebuyers were still toddlers back then, and a lot has changed in the way that homes are built over the last three decades, including improvements in energy efficiency, “smart” home technology, and much more.
Buyers who invest in a brand new home for sale can enjoy all the advances that we’ve made in the past 30 years. Plus, there’s nothing like owning something that’s never been used before, whether that’s a truck, a sofa, a mattress, or a house.
Here are 12 more reasons you should consider new homes for sale instead of older “resale” homes:
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Better deals, better bottom line.
New home builders frequently offer big incentives on the purchase of new construction homes in the form of free upgrades, discounts, paid closing costs, and more. The asking price on a resale property often seems lower, but that’s without factoring in all of these extra incentives. When you add in the items that matter most to you, the bottom line on a new construction home is often less than you would pay in the long run.
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More flexibility on your move-in date.
Because you can shop for new construction homes at just about every stage of construction—from a full dirt build all the way up through a move-in ready home—you have a lot of options when it comes to timing your move. If you have the leisure to wait for a home that’s built from scratch, you can. If you need to move in right away, you can choose a home that’s already finished!
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More energy efficient!
The last three decades have seen huge strides in energy efficiency where home construction is concerned. Older homes just can’t compete with new construction when it comes to utility bills and your carbon footprint. Plus, new homes are built airtight. Older homes are going to have less efficient windows and doors as well as settling that can lead to leaks and drafts. Most modern homes are built to higher energy standards and often come with LEED or EnergyStar certifications. You’ll usually get brand new appliances, high-efficiency windows, and more.
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Lower costs associated with home ownership.
Look, buying a house costs more than the sticker price. Being a homeowner means you’ll have to pay to fix things that go wrong, maintain the lawn, or paint the rooms. When you’re looking at the price of an older resale home, consider all the expenses that will go along with any needed repairs or renovations. A new construction home, on the other hand, will require less maintenance, it will last longer, and it will probably come with a new home warranty that can protect you and your family for the first few years!
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Brand new building materials, modern style.
And the older house is going to look, well, older. But a brand-new house lets you pick the design elements and finishes that make it an artful reflection of your personal style. You also get the benefit of everything being brand new. There are no chips, burns, or stains left over from the previous owner, even in the most out-of-the-way places. Plus, you have the luxury of working with the builder’s design professionals to help make the home exactly what you always dreamed of.
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Fewer “design challenges.”
A new construction home lets you choose a floor plan that fits your life, your style, and those special pieces of furniture that you want to incorporate into your new home. You won’t have to struggle with how in the world you’re going to make that awkward space in an existing home work for you!
- Amenities, amenities, amenities. Many new construction homes are located in master-planned communities. That means you’re getting more than a home. You’re getting a whole lifestyle, complete with on-site amenities, community events, and convenient access to schools, restaurants, shopping, and commuting options.
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Fewer surprises.
This is a big one. Anyone who has bought an older home has definitely experienced unpleasant surprises. What’s that dripping sound? Where is that smell coming from? Is that the wind whistling through the windows? A new construction home goes through at least 16 inspections on average throughout the building process, so there aren’t going to be any unwelcome surprises that you didn’t know about in advance. You can breathe a little easier when you sign the mortgage.
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Safety standards and home automation.
Today, new construction homes are built with the most recent safety standards and the latest innovations in “smart” home technology. This means that you can often get a new home with Ring doorbells, security systems, smart speakers, home assistants, USB wall plugs, intelligent appliances and thermostats, and more built right in. And if it isn’t already installed, your home was designed to make incorporating it easy down the road.
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Built to code.
Let’s face it, building code regulations are always changing, and it can be costly to bring an older home up to code if it isn’t there already. Fortunately, a new home for sale in Austin is always going to be built to conform to the latest building codes, so that you can move in without a worry.
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No bidding wars!
Austin is a popular place to live, and it’s growing every day! This can lead to a low supply of existing homes, which may mean that, even if you find the home that’s perfect for you, you’ll be outbid when it comes time to buy. That leads to frustration, wasted time, and a financial burden that can be tough to shoulder. Buying new eliminates all of that, letting you choose the home you love at a realistic price without worrying about being outbid at the last minute.
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Coverage through a builder’s warranty.
As we mentioned, a new home is going to have fewer maintenance costs, but that doesn’t mean that nothing will ever go wrong. Fortunately, most new construction homes also come with a builder’s warranty that will protect you from anything that might happen and help take some worries off your mind so that you can enjoy your new home.
If you’re looking at brand new homes for sale in Austin, Texas, all you have to do is fill out the form below, and we’ll be happy to help you with your search for a new address in our master-planned community here in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
