What to Know About Buying a New Construction Home

Buying a home in a competitive market is like being in a gladiator ring. Multiple rounds of showings and bidding wars can leave you feeling defeated.

If you’re growing weary of wading through an insufficient inventory of existing homes, you might want to consider buying a new construction home.

The number of single-family homes constructed is expected to rise in 2021, though at a slower pace than the previous year, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Builder confidence in the market for single-family homes hit a record high in November 2020, and though it receded a bit by the end of 2020, the NAHB forecasts that the construction of residential homes will be a key element of the economic recovery this year.

More new construction homes for sale may mean less competition in your market. If you're tired of sitting on the sidelines, here are four things to consider when buying a new construction home.

You get to customize your home

Not all of us are blessed with an interior designer’s touch. When buying a new construction home, you may be able to choose a floor plan, housing lot, type of community, expert-selected features and more, so you don’t have to agonize over an extensive remodel to get the house of your dreams.

You might get builder incentives

Believe it or not, there’s a bit of flexibility in the negotiation process with a builder. While you may not be able to get a discount on the purchase price of a new construction home, you may be able to negotiate for material or structural upgrades.

Some builders may also try to sweeten the deal by offering to pay closing costs, initial mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance premiums or homeowners association fees for a certain period. If you don’t see incentives advertised, ask about them. Don’t assume that they’re not available.

» MORE: Buying a house this year: What to expect

You might get a builder warranty

Warranties vary from builder to builder, but they'll generally cover the workmanship and materials for things like windows or the heating and cooling system for a specific amount of time, often one year. Warranties also typically specify how the repairs will be made.

Find out what the builder warranty covers — and how long it lasts — to make sure there aren’t any surprises. New homes typically come with a builder warranty to cover common post-construction issues that the builder is responsible for correcting.

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