Oct 31, 2023 By Susan Kelly
Before signing contracts or putting down money, most homebuyers spend significant time and effort looking for or designing "the perfect home." When looking for a new home, numerous factors are considered, including location, cost, market conditions, taxes, HOA dues, and the property's overall condition. Each shopper also has a list of must-haves (the things they absolutely must have) and nice-to-haves (the things they would like to have). While many decisions are to be made throughout the home-buying process, one of the first is whether to acquire a preexisting property or start from scratch.
The key benefits of purchasing a pre-owned property are its practicality and financial savings. It is much easier to make an advance on a home if you know a lender has accepted you. Having a professional real estate agent on your side can save you time and energy by helping you locate desirable houses, handling negotiations, and handling paperwork. Assuming your offer is accepted, the closing and subsequent move-in could occur within the same month or two. The ability to move throughout right away is enough incentive for many people to pick an existing home over a new construction despite the lengthy procedure involved (including financing, visiting homes, making offers, termite inspection, and closing).
For purchasers on a tight timeline, such as those moving for a new job or whose children will be starting a new school, the desire to purchase a move-in-ready house may be highly pressing. Finally, there is the price. According to research by the National Association of Home Builders, buying an existing home is often (but not always) more cost-effective. 1 To better estimate the overall cost of acquiring a home at today's interest rates, have been using a mortgage calculator once you've discovered a potential, existing home.
While you may set out on the hunt for a new place to locate the perfect preexisting property, you may ultimately decide to build. On the other hand, you can initially intend to construct a home but decide that an existing one is more suitable. Consultation with a competent expert, be it a real estate agent or a general contractor, can assist make the process go faster and more efficiently in any situation.