The Advantages of Buying New Home Construction in a Master-Planned Community

Today’s new homes offer more benefits than ever before. Here is a quick list of the top reasons why so many homeowners prefer new homes to used houses.

LIFESTYLE – benefit from more than just a brand new home design

New home construction is generally found in a master-planned community (MPC) developed by an experienced developer that spends a huge amount of marketing dollars to ensure they design a community layout that is the best, modern-day fit for their target consumer’s lifestyle. The developer decides what lot size, product, and price point will be best for the location. They also create deed restrictions to protect the overall look and feel of the community they are wanting to achieve. Homebuyers love when the integrity of their community is protected in this way. The more regulations in place, the better the curb appeal when homebuyers peruse the community. It is definitely something to think about when you are ready to sell your home someday. 

Regardless of price point, developers prioritize space for greenbelts, trails, cul-de-sacs, and treed lots throughout. There’s a certain lifestyle standard you should expect when touring these communities. Almost always, MPC’s will have (or have a plan for) a minimum of one amenity center that has a pool and area for homeowners to host events. Many Texas homebuyers are requesting spaces to entertain outdoors. Developers will also invite established builders to partner with them who offer “Al Fresco” style outdoor living area layouts on their floor plans. 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY – significantly reduce your carbon footprint and your utility bills 

Builders provide personalized HERS (Home Energy Rating Score) certificates to their homeowners showing the energy efficiency details of each home post inspections. Generally, the scale is from 1-100. The lower the number, the more energy efficient your new home will be. This helps cut down monthly utility costs and gives you something else to boast about when it is time to market the home for resale. All builders have some sort of energy efficiency program like the Energy Star or Environments for Living program. Some builder energy programs, like Wilshire homes, guaranteecost savings in lower utility bills for the consumer.

PERSONALIZATION- customize your home with a production builder

Depending on developer restrictions and the stage of the home, most builders offer a range of structural, aesthetic, and electrical options to choose from to make the home more custom to the buyer. As homebuyers make selections after the initial contract, the builder typically asks for 50% of the cost of those selections to move forward so that they have “skin in the game.” All deposits and monies will be credited back to the buyer at the closing table. 

Want to embrace the home building process to its fullest potential? With the help and permission from your builder, organize a frame signing party for the frame stage of the home. Your construction manager should be able to give you a 2-3 week notice to plan the event. Invite friends and family to sign the frames with well wishes and notes. Kids love marking up the walls of their new room! I’d suggest making this event on a Sunday (late) afternoon when it is least likely that trades will be there working on your home. You don’t want to get in the way of busy trades making progress on the completion of your home in this market (and neither does your builder.) A frame signing event can be a great way to bring loved ones to your homesite, meet new neighbors, and start embracing your future home.

WARRANTY – lower costs of ownership

When you purchase a new home, you skip the renovations involved in a resale and are set to reap the benefits of a warranty program that is included with the purchase of your new home. Typically, the program is what builders call a “1/2/10” year program. The first year covers the home “bumper-to-bumper,” while the second year covers the HVAC, electric, and plumbing, and the 10 year covers the structural foundation of the home. Not only is this advantageous for resale, but the new builder technology and materials used calls for minimal home maintenance initially. Anything that does come up would most likely be covered by the builder under the warranty program. However, we are sorry to report you must switch out your own lightbulbs. Sorry folks!