10 Popular Reasons Home Buyers Purchase New Construction Homes over Resale Homes

Are you house hunting and trying to decide whether a new construction or resale home is right for you? Purchasing a home is often the most expensive investment a person will make in their lifetime. For that reason, you’ll want to dedicate a lot of time and due diligence when deciding what housing choice is right for you and your family. Here is an overview of 10 popular reasons buyers choose new construction over resale homes.

Home builders and developers spend a lot of time and money researching top floorplan layouts and sought-after design choices. A good builder will take this homebuyer data and create intuitive floorplans that meet your needs and are packed with the features you’re looking for. New construction homes often come with modern and energy-efficient features like built-in smart home tech, elevated ceilings, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and EnergyStar-rated appliances. 

For buyers looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save on utility costs, purchasing a newly built home is an obvious choice. New construction homes are built with modern, energy-efficient materials and systems, potentially saving homeowners thousands of dollars in energy costs. New homes are built with better ventilation systems, superior insulation, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and EnergyStar-rated appliances. In addition to this, new homes often come with low-flow toilets and shower heads, long-lasting LED lighting, and smart thermostats. 

Since everything in a new home is well, buyers can rest easy knowing they shouldn’t have to worry about larger ticket maintenance and repair items. New construction homes are typically built with new and modern materials, requiring less repair compared to older homes. So while you’ll still have to replace your HVAC filter and clean your rain gutters, you shouldn’t have to worry about replacing the furnace, updating the electrical, or buying a new roof for quite some time.

Buying an older resale home may come with cute quirks and design choices, but it may also come with some risks. While new construction homes are built to the latest building codes, older homes may have outdated electrical wiring, hazardous materials, corroding sewer lines, and foundation problems - to name a few. Even if an older home was repaired, you may run into issues with deferred upkeep, pests, or low-quality repair work that needs additional repair in the future.

When purchasing a new home, buyers have added peace of mind knowing their home comes with a limited warranty that protects buyers against structural defects and workmanship problems. All limited warranties will vary from builder to builder, including coverage time, how to request a claim, and who is servicing the repair. In addition to the builder’s warranty, your new appliances likely have their own third-party manufacturer’s warranty. At closing, you’ll typically receive paperwork that tells you how to register for this and what benefits you could be eligible for.

We’ve all heard the saying, “location, location, location,” and there’s a reason for it. Developers carefully acquire land where people want to live, and they try to build in growing, up-and-coming neighborhoods and sought-after areas. As mentioned above, they spend a lot of time and money understanding buyers’ needs and know a prime location is top of mind. 

Due to high demand and limited inventory in our beautiful Eastside community, new home prices are often comparable to resale homes of similar sizes. Many buyers assume they can’t afford a newly built home, but with more smaller-footprint homes becoming available, buyers may find a new, high-quality home offered at the same price as a 40-year resale. The added benefits of lower maintenance costs, higher energy efficiencies, and a new home warranty, may help offset the cost of a new home.

All the benefits listed above play a role in this. Newly built homes often have the potential to have higher resale values compared to older homes because they are made with the most in-demand features, better energy efficiency, and are in sought-after locations, thus making them more turnkey when it comes time to rent or sell. This makes them a good investment in the long run.

Yet another reason to choose a new construction home over a resale home is that there is generally less competition from other homebuyers. This can be especially great in today’s stressful real estate market, where homes are selling extremely fast and for higher prices due to the influx of demand. Buying a new construction home allows you to take your time, have control over the process, and not feel rushed into buying the first thing that opens up on the market. 

Many new construction homebuilders offer special financing incentives for home buyers, such as lowered interest rates, closing cost assistance, or delayed move-in dates, making purchasing a new construction home an even more attractive option. These incentives not only make the entire process easier and more enjoyable for the buyer but helps them save money on their dream home. With resale homes, you’ll often find that buyers bid against each other, increasing the price even higher than its original listing. 

There are a number of factors to consider when determining whether to buy a newly built home over a resale, so it's important to determine what aspects are most important to you. If you’re looking for a modern layout with sought-after features, such as energy-efficient components that lower your carbon footprint and help you save on utility costs, then a new construction home may be right for you. Additionally, if you are feeling disheartened by the current market because you can't find a home that aligns with your design preferences or lifestyle needs, a new construction home is going to be your best option. 

Are you currently looking for a home for sale in the Kirkland area? Would you like to talk through the benefits and features of buying luxury new construction home from Merit Homes? Contact our Sales Manager, Feisal Ramjee, to discuss current and future inventory, and the buying process: (425) 445-1765.