It’s a question that’s troubled home buyers through the ages: Should we build or buy? Although it is certainly possible to find an older home that matches your particular taste and budget, there are a number of reasons why you should consider choosing new construction over resale.
Energy efficiency is No. 1. It’s no secret that energy costs have been on the rise in recent years. Having an energy efficient home won’t just keep you more comfortable throughout the year, it will also save you a ton of money on energy costs in the long run.
The energy efficiency of a home can be determined through its Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index. The lower the HERS score, the more energy efficient the home is. According to hersindex.com, the average new home has a HERS score of 100, while the average resale home’s score is 30% higher.
The good thing is homebuilders are designing some incredibly energy-efficient homes today. They have to. New building codes mandate it. And new energy technology has given us things like programmable and remote-controlled thermostats, low-E windows, high-efficiency furnaces, and more.
Furthermore, lenders are recognizing new, energy-efficient homes as better mortgage investments over older homes. A recent study by the University of North Carolina’s Center for Community Capital and the Institute for Market Transformation found that homes that ranked lower on the HERS Index had lower mortgage default risks.
Another great reason to choose new construction over resale is that it enables you to get exactly what you want in your home. You could literally spend years searching for a home in the right location with all the things you want as far as layout, design, and interior amenities. But when you take the home-building route, it’s all up to you, from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, to the style of the kitchen cabinets and the type of flooring. Best of all, you get to pick and choose from a selection of modern features and amenities that just aren’t available in older homes.
If the seemingly endless number of options makes your head dizzy, don’t worry; many homebuilders offer stock floor plans and options to make your decisions that much easier.
There are many other reasons, too, for choosing to build rather
than buy:
- Overall costs – Although a resale home may be cheaper up front, with renovations, maintenance, and upgrades, it’s usually more expensive in the long run.
- Safety – Older homes can have charm, but they can also have a lot of hidden problems that threaten the safety of your family. A new home, on the other hand, will have new wiring, new plumbing, and will be up-to-spec with all the latest building codes.
- Lower homeowner’s insurance – New homes have new roofs as well as new plumbing and heating systems. They’re also up-to-date with all the latest building and electrical codes. This means greater savings on your homeowner’s insurance.
As you can see there are so many benefits to building vs. buying. We would love to help walk you through the process and get you on the path to realizing your dream of a brand-new home. Call our office at 814.866.8840 for a New Construction Consultation.