First, let’s be clear on who pays for the services of a Realtor®. Typically it is the seller who pays commission fees. Home builders have these fees already built into the price of the home. It is more profit for the builder if you do not involve an agent to help you, … and you get no representation. Using a Realtor® does not increase the cost of the home and does not cause a builder to not want you as a customer or increase the difficulty in getting the home built. In fact, if you qualify as a Hero you will get money back after closing… money that you can use to furnish your new home, stock the man cave, finish the basement, or just go on vacation after the big move. Most builders welcome the use of a Realtor® because you bounce your questions and concerns off of your chosen professional instead of calling the construction superintendent or sales person every day. If this is a step that you are considering, it is important that you include us as soon as you decide… before you go to look at models. Once you sign the contract to purchase a new home, without using a Realtor®, it is too late to involve one. At this point, any issues or negotiation will be between you and the builder’s representative (who the builder pays to protect the interests of the the builder). You will not have anyone protecting your interests except yourself. We can help you select the model, location, and amenities that best fits your families needs and budget.

Do I have to build in a subdivision? That depends on the builder. There are builders who only build in subdivisions and there are builders who will build on your lot/land. Some of these builders (in both situations) will only build the models that they sell (with some slight modifications) and some will take any print you have and build your home the way that you want it… as long as it meets minimum standards for building code and/or HOA restrictions. Of course, if a lot is owned by a particular builder, that builder will typically only sell you the lot when they build your home.

Do I have to have the land before I have my home built onto it? You can search for the land that you want and have the builder verify that a home, well/water connection, septic/sewer connection, etc. can be built onto that land. Some builders will even negotiate purchasing the land for you (based on your credit and financial situation), build the home and all needed systems, then sell the entire package to you as one transaction. This process negates you needing to purchase the land, secure a construction loan and go through the steps necessary to finance building the home, then convert the construction loan into your desired mortgage term.