Posts Tagged ‘ Buy a new home ’

Everybody loves new and there’s nothing better than a New Home!

Austin has new home opportunities and communities all over the greater Austin area. New home builders offer master planned communities, luxury homes, golf course communities, lakeside communities, acreage communities, acreage home sites, build on your lot and so much more.

Austin Premier Realty has worked with many new home builders and knows the ins and outs of the industry. DeeDee Kallam, broker and owner of Austin Premier Realty, has first hand knowledge of the building process, having worked for one of the nation’s leading home builders in the past. When buying a new home, you want a Realtor to represent you and support you through the process to ensure you feel comfortable through the entire transaction.

10 GREAT reasons to BUY a NEW HOME

1. Energy Efficiency: Great new developments are here that will help you save money and mother earth.

2. Warranty: Save thousands in what could be warranty covered work.

3. Better Products: There are always new improvements in materials from windows to framework.

4. Appreciation: The fastest period of appreciation in a home is within 7-8 years.

5. Interest Rates: At an all time low, need we say more?

6. Ownership Pride: This is your house and no one has ever laid claim to it.

7. Easy To Buy: You work with a builder who has experienced the sales process numerous times.

8. Modern Design: You are buying the most up-to-date design styles and contemporary techniques.

9. Wired: Many new homes are pre-wired for the high-tech world we now live in.

10. New Neighborhood: Communities are now master planned with better continuity.

Why work with a Realtor when buying a new home?

Representation and guidance. Also, a Realtor can attend builder meetings and construction meetings with you or in your absence, visit the home site, check progress, provide updates. A Realtor can also attend to matters pertaining to your new home when you are away due to business, travel or relocation.

Shouldn’t I Cut Out the Middleman?

When buying a new home, prospective homeowners are looking for the best deal possible, giving them the best home and amenities for their money. Many buyers mistakenly believe that bypassing a Realtor will save them commission dollars, as they are cutting out the “middleman” who will certainly take their own cut.

In some industries, direct buying is a wise, money-saving choice, but in real estate, foregoing the services of a Realtor can cost you big in the long run.

Don’t be fooled into believing that dealing directly with a builder will offer big discounts. It is a rare case in which this is true. Most builders who ask to work directly with a buyer will park the price of a new home up to include what would have been paid to the Realtor. Buyers who take advantage of these “deals” direct from a builder’s representative will pay the same as they would when using a Realtor, but will lose the benefit of having an experienced voice working to help them with their purchase and any issues that may come up with the builder.

Why Would It Cost the Same?

Builders credit over 85% of their sales to real estate agents.

They want and need agents to bring buyers to their communities and work with the client to figure out what community and builder plan will work for the buyer. The builder typically will have only one on-site agent, sometimes two, but never enough to handle all the buyers who are interested in learning about their homes.

That said, builders will not undercut their main source of business by offering a discount to buyers without agents.

Realtors Offer Sales Guidance WITH Data

When selecting a new home for purchase, a Realtor can help you to select the features that best fit your needs. Many times, when working directly with a builder, buyers are offered excessive upgrades or substandard materials at a premium price. A Realtor can assess your financial situation and lifestyle needs to help you determine exactly what you need and can afford in your new home. Agents also help to protect you from shady builders, looking to make extra money by tricking buyers into allowing them to use a lower quality product.

In addition to giving advice on the options a builder offers, a Realtor can offer comparable sales from the MLS to ensure that you are getting a good deal on the price. Often the builder will quote a price to the prospect and see what sticks. By using an agent, you’ll have data to backup the price that you’ll pay for your home.

Realtors Are Your Advocate During the Process

Employing the services of a Realtor, particularly when purchasing a newly constructed home, will give buyers an extra line of defense against many of the common issues that arise during the buying process.

Rather than battling the builder ALONE when problems arise during construction, your Realtor will take matters into their own hands and work to assure that any problem is corrected in a way that is suitable to you.

With plenty of mediating experience between buyers and builders, an experienced Realtor knows what needs to be done to get the desired results.

Realtors are also experienced in contracts and contract negotiations. While the wording of a contract may be somewhat cryptic to the buyer, a Realtor can clarify any wording that is confusing and work to get changes made to contract stipulations that are unsuitable. This will help to prevent misunderstandings and misleading contract terms that are binding, once a purchase agreement is signed.

Still Want to Go It Alone?

While some have successfully purchased homes directly from a builder, buyers should ask themselves if this is a risk that they are willing to take. In most cases, the peace of mind and protecting that is given by using a Realtor is well worth their commission. By choosing to purchase a newly constructed home through a Realtor, the likelihood of a positive outcome is almost assured, from start to finish.