Let's Connect!
JACQUELYN DUKE, REALTOR®
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Team
    • Testimonials
  • Buyers
    • Get Your FREE Guide "Buying a Home"!
    • FREE First Time Home Buyer Guide AVAILABLE HERE!
    • Property Search
    • Featured Listings
    • Let Us Find What You Are Looking For
    • Get Pre-Qualified!
    • Affordable Homeownership Resources
  • Sellers
    • Staging That Sells
    • Photography That Sells
    • Video That Sells
    • Marketing That Sells
    • Get Your FREE Guide "Selling Your House"!
  • Investors
  • Renters
  • Resources
    • About Central Iowa
    • Utilities Information
    • Local Vendors & Contractors
    • Affordable Homeownership Resources
    • Real Estate News
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Team
    • Testimonials
  • Buyers
    • Get Your FREE Guide "Buying a Home"!
    • FREE First Time Home Buyer Guide AVAILABLE HERE!
    • Property Search
    • Featured Listings
    • Let Us Find What You Are Looking For
    • Get Pre-Qualified!
    • Affordable Homeownership Resources
  • Sellers
    • Staging That Sells
    • Photography That Sells
    • Video That Sells
    • Marketing That Sells
    • Get Your FREE Guide "Selling Your House"!
  • Investors
  • Renters
  • Resources
    • About Central Iowa
    • Utilities Information
    • Local Vendors & Contractors
    • Affordable Homeownership Resources
    • Real Estate News
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

buying and selling doesn't have to be hard.

Should You Buy an Existing Home or New Construction?

9/18/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Should You Buy an Existing Home or New Construction?

Finding the right home to purchase today is one of the biggest challenges for potential buyers. With so few homes for sale and construction of newly built homes ramping up, you may be wondering if you should consider new construction in your search process. It’s a great question to ask, and one to look at from the pros and cons of what it means to buy a new home versus an existing one. Here are a few things to consider when making the best decision for your family.
New Construction  When buying a new home, you can often choose more energy-efficient options. New appliances, new windows, a new roof, etc. These can all help lower your energy costs, which can add up to significant savings over time. With programs like ENERGY STAR, your home also helps protect the environment and reduces your carbon footprint.
Lower maintenance that comes with a newer home is another great benefit. When you have a new home, you likely won’t have as many little repairs to tackle, like leaky faucets, shutters to paint, and other odd jobs around the house. With new construction, you’ll also have warranty options that may cover portions of your investment for the first few years.
Another solid benefit to new construction is customization. Do you want a mudroom, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, hardwood floors, an office, or a multipurpose room to homeschool your children? These items can be customized to your specific needs during the design phase. With an existing home, you’re buying something that’s already completed, so if you want to make changes, you may need to hire a contractor to help get your home ready for your family.
Existing HomeWhen buying an existing home, you can negotiate with the current homeowner on price, which is something you generally don’t get to do with a builder. Builders know their material and construction costs, and they have a price set for the model you’re buying. So, if you want to negotiate, then maybe an existing home will be best.
For many families, having an established neighborhood is also important. Some buyers like to know the neighbors, if it’s family-friendly, and traffic patterns before making a commitment. When you buy new construction, you won’t have a full view of some of those details until the lots around you are sold.
Finally, timing comes into play. With an existing home, you can move in based on the timeline you agree to with the sellers. With new construction, you need to wait for the house to be built. Depending on the time of the year you’re buying and the region you’re in, the weather can also be a factor in the timeframe. This is something really important to keep in mind, especially if you need to move sooner rather than later. Over the past few months with COVID-19 and social distancing regulations, some areas for new construction have been delayed.
Bottom LineWhether you want to buy a newly built home or one that’s already established, both are great options. They each have their pros and cons, and every family will have different circumstances driving their decision. If you have questions and want to know more about the options in our area, let’s connect today so you can feel confident making a decision about your next home.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Picture

      Subscribe to my monthly e-Newsletter The HOUSE Bulletin!

      You'll Receive:
      Monthly Giveaways
      Central Iowa Entertainment News
      Family Updates
      Opportunities for Community Service
      House Maintenance Tips

      ​
      And of course... Real Estate Advice!!!

    Keep Me Updated!

    Let's Connect

    With the correct person by your side, the buying and selling process doesn't have to be full of stress, doubt and anxiety - it can actually be FUN!
    ​Contact Jacquelyn Duke today to learn more!

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016

    Categories

    All
    Featured Listings For Sale

    Jacquelyn Duke, Realtor®
    Licensed to Sell in the State of Iowa


    [email protected]
    (515) 240-7483
    ​

    Realty One Group Impact 
    617 SW 3rd Street Ste 101
    Ankeny, IA 50023

    ​Disclaimer: The material on this site is solely for informational purposes. No warranties or representations have been made.
    Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly