Hey friends, [JOE AGENT] here with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty Texas. I've recently toured a few homes in some new developments across the DFW/San Antonio area, and they looked incredible! Heck, I wanted to move in right away! But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that buyers probably don't look at these homes in the same way I do. In their mind, they're move in ready! They're new! Why would I need a realtor when I'm going to pay list price anyway? I stopped dead in my tracks.There are plenty of reasons why you need a realtor when you're considering purchasing a brand new home, but here are 3 that immediately came to my mind.
First off, the sales office is going to tell you that a new home is listed for (insert reasonable home price for your area), but everything is negotiable. If you're early enough, you may be able to negotiate paint colors, lighting features, kitchen finishes and more! But hold on. Are you getting a fair price for those upgrades, or are they taking advantage of you picking options on a whim? As a realtor, a large part of my job is negotiating on behalf of my clients and I know the fair market value of various upgrades around your home. I don't want you to overpay for a coat of paint because you're negotiating without a realtor. You're making what will most likely be the largest purchase of your life up to this point, and you deserve the chance to have an expert look over that contract.
Secondly, most new developers will try to steer you in the direction of their preferred mortgage company. But mortgages are not that simple, and you should shop around for the best rate. As a realtor, I've worked with all the large mortgage companies and know a fair rate when I see one. With all the uncertainty and rate hikes in the past few months, you should shop around to find the best possible solution for your mortgage needs, and most importantly, you should be free to find the best mortgage company for your needs.
And finally, I've been in a home or two. Or three. Or a couple hundred. I've also been in plenty of new constructions and seen plenty of issues. Just because something is new doesn't mean it's high quality, totally safe or completely up to code. Small details can get overlooked in the construction process, and some companies can develop blind spots to those issues as construction moves to a new phase or new area. You need someone in your corner who is watching for those easy-to-miss items that require action before you sign a contract. Have you considered the zoning of the home? Is it in a flood plain? Small details like this can go overlooked for months until it all comes at you at once. I have experience placing people in homes ranging from the early 1900's to early Tuesday. They all have their fair share of issues, and I don't want you to have an issue come up that you didn't notice.
All in all, having a realtor, regardless of what property you're searching for, is of huge benefit to you, and even new construction homes can throw you for a loop. Call me today at xxx.xxx.xxxx, and let's talk about finding you that new construction home of your dreams, and doing it the right way, the first time.
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