Home buyers all over the country are taking advantage of the many benefits of buying new construction homes, and the stats are in to prove it. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 560,000 new construction homes were sold last year, outpacing 2015 with a 12 percent increase. New construction homes sold better in 2016 than ever before, and new construction home sales are only expected to increase in 2017. If you’re looking to become a first time home buyer this year, make sure you keep new construction homes in mind. There are several notable benefits of buying new construction homes that every home buyer should consider before starting their home search.
Customize Your Dream Home
One of the biggest benefits of buying new construction homes is the freedom of total customization. When you buy a new construction home, you get the luxury of designing it to be exactly how you want it to be. Your new construction home can be the dream home you’ve always imagined buying one day, and it can be the very first home you ever buy! You don’t have to settle for anyone else’s choices. The cabinets, floors, light fixtures, countertops, and appliances are waiting to be hand-picked by you, the home’s very first owner. Even the paint colors can be chosen ahead of time. Your new construction home will reflect your own personal style, and you won’t have to do any work upon moving in to make it perfect.
Design the Layout to Fit Your Lifestyle
Particular layout designs fit the needs of certain lifestyles better than others. When you buy a new construction home, you can tailor the layout of your home to your specific needs. If you’re planning on starting a family and want your master bedroom closer to the nursery, you can design your home that way. Do you need huge, walk-in closets for your enormous shoe collection? Consider it done. Planning on hosting your parents for part of the year and want them to have their own space on the other side of the house with an eat-in kitchen? Done and done. Your new construction home can be designed to match your individual lifestyle, and that is one of the best benefits of buying a new construction home.
Rest Assured That Your Home is Safe
Unlike older homes, new construction homes are built to follow the latest safety codes which are more stringent than safety codes of the past. You won’t need to worry about asbestos lurking in the attic, mold in the basement, or a shaky foundation. Your home will be brand new and held to the very highest safety requirements during construction. There are state-of-the art circuit breakers, electric garage door openers that can detect when a child or object is too close to the door, as well as carpet and paint that blocks out volatile organic compounds. Forget termites or critter infestations. Buy a new construction home and get the benefit of knowing your house is protected for years to come.
Make Your Home ‘Smart’ & Save on Energy Costs
One of the most exciting benefits of a new construction home — and the ability to design your home from the ground up — is the option to equip your home with the latest smart home technology features. These options will make your home energy-efficient, reduce your monthly costs, and save you money on your taxes. Many new homes feature smart building materials like double or even triple-pane windows that keep the cool or hot air inside your home or insulating concrete forms that prevent mold, mildew, and rotting. The other plus side of smart home technology is that these type of home features can all connect to the internet and be remotely controlled by an app, which makes living in your home that much more convenient. Also, smart homes are very appealing to the average home buyer if or when you ever decide to sell.
Enjoy the Tax Break
Did you know that new construction homes are taxed less? After you purchase your home, you’ll pay the least amount of property tax among most home owners because home taxes are based on the value of your home the year prior to purchase. Since your new construction home didn’t exist before you bought it — it was just a dirt lot, worth only the land price — you can expect to enjoy a nice little tax break for a few months up to a few years. This is one of several homeownership tax breaks exclusive to home owners, specifically new construction home owners, and money saved is always beneficial to your bank account.
Expect Little to No Maintenance
New construction homes come with yet another major benefit; since the home is brand new, home buyers can expect to enjoy living in their home for years with little to no maintenance required. Whereas older homes tend to come with aging appliances and other parts — like the plumbing, heating or cooling — that will soon need replacing, a new construction home comes with all new features, products, and appliances under warranty. That can be a major relief to first time home buyers and their wallets.
The Bottom Line
Buying a new construction home can be the best decision you ever make. Though new construction homes may not be right for everyone, the benefits can’t be ignored by home buyers that are looking for a long-term investment, or a home they can live in for more than five years, and most importantly a home that is completely true to their needs, wants, and lifestyle. If you are interested in buying a new construction home in the DMV, contact the Keri Shull Team for the hottest new construction listings in the area.
