The process of purchasing a new property is filled with many decisions. One of the most important choices that real estate buyers have to make is whether they want to look at previously owned homes or design their own new home construction. Though purchasing a previously owned home might seem like the traditional choice for buyers, many people are missing out on anything by going with a home resale. If you are trying to decide between a brand new home or a used home, here are a few things you should consider.

Customization Opportunities

Though very rare, it is possible to find an old house that already has your perfect layout and ideal finishes on every surface. Unless you are lucky enough to encounter this, you will need to turn to a new home builder to get exactly what you want. When selecting a new home, you get to participate in the design process, select the perfect layout, and decide on things like countertops and number of cabinets. Of course it is possible to renovate an old home, but this can be time consuming, difficult, and expensive.

Environmental Friendliness

If you care about living in an environmentally conscious space, it is typically best to go with a new home. Older homes tend to be terribly energy efficient, and they may be constructed with problematic materials like asbestos and lead. In the past 10 years alone, there have been huge changes in ecofriendly technology. Things like modern appliances, windows, insulation, and sealants all help to make new home construction far more energy efficient. There are also new construction materials that are made in an environmentally friendly way and do not contain volatile organic compounds that could impair the air quality inside your home. The typical new house comes with energy certifications on virtually every aspect of the home.

Maintenance Costs

When you first start looking to buy instead of rent, one of the things that everyone warns you about is the costs associated with home repairs. Things like leaky roofs, broken HVAC units, stuck windows, or peeling paint quickly add up. Though some people who love DIY projects might enjoy dealing with a fixer upper, the average person is better off with a house that is not going to start falling apart on them. Everything in a new home purchase will be brand new, and they often come with warranties that will cover the costs of maintenance for the first few years.

Location

Location is one of the most important aspects of enjoying your new home.

Shopping for pre-owned homes requires you to compromise on either the house itself or the location. With a new home, you get to find your ideal location and then work with a new home builder to build the house you need. Many people select homes built in neighborhoods with community pools, parks, sports courts, and other amenities. Master planned communities are often conveniently close to good schools and helpful transit opportunities.

Timing

Juggling the timing of finding a new home and moving out of your old one is often very complicated. Countless people have stories of picking a home resale, selling their old home, having the sale fall through, and getting stuck living in a hotel for months. The turn around for a new home purchase is fairly fast, at about six months on average, and you have a scheduled date that everything will be done by. The lack of uncertainty with the timing means that you can confidently end a current lease or sell your old home without having to worry about a closing date being pushed back.