The Benefits of Buying New in Naples
Posted by Ryan Schwartz on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013 at 8:16am.
NEW HOMES IN NAPLES, FL
New home communities in Naples are at a premium. In fact, the heart of Naples is pretty much built out. You will, however, find new home construction pushed toward the outskirts of town. Of course there are vacant parcels sprinkled throughout Naples and if you have your heart set on a completely custom home, one of these will be ideal.
When weighing the benefits of purchasing a new home in Naples over an existing one, consider the following:
CUSTOMIZATION
This is probably the main reason buyers choose new home construction over existing homes. Just about everything is customizable, including the all-important location, location, location. If you have your heart set on a water view, you can choose a lot that offers one. Want the kids to be able to walk to school? Choose the building site closest to their route.
Then there are all the other custom touches you can add to make the home reflect your personality and lifestyle, from carpet to architectural details.
REPAIRS
The cost of repairing an existing home can be astronomical, as the infograph points out. This isn’t to say that a new home comes without problems. Builders and their subcontractors sometimes take short cuts or use substandard materials. This is why I disagree with number two on the infograph list of 7 Reasons to Buy New and I always suggest that my clients get a home inspection even on new homes.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
New homes are typically constructed with an eye toward energy efficiency. Since we tend to use a lot of electricity to cool our homes here in Naples, saving energy is a primary concern for many home buyers. The new ENERGY STAR qualified heat pump water heaters can net you savings of hundreds of dollars per year on your electric bills while the new types of home insulation saves about 20 percent per year. All of these items add up to a big chunk of money that remains in your pocket over the long haul.
CONSIDERATIONS
There are two things to keep in mind when you’re headed out to tour a new home community, and they both have to do with the builder:
Loan: Most builders have in-house lenders, or preferred lenders that they hope buyers will work with. You are under no obligation to use the builder’s lender, however. I counsel my clients to go ahead and apply with the lender and then use the quote to comparison shop with other mortgage brokers and banks.
Real Estate Agent: When you walk into the new home community’s office you’ll be greeted by a nice man or woman. This person is a real estate agent. Should you decide to purchase a new home in the community it may be tempting to use this agent’s services. It is not wise, however. This agent represents the builder and although he or she has a duty to both of you, the primary allegiance is to the builder.
It’s always best to have your own agent. It costs you nothing (sellers pay real estate commissions) and you have the peace of mind knowing that your interests are being protected.
I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about new homes in Naples and to show you any of our new home communities. Feel free to call me for an appointment.
Windermere Real Estate wrote:
Here in Central Florida we have had a lot of buyers deciding to purchase new homes for many of the reasons you stated above. The ability to customize their home and to have all of the new energy efficiencies standards is typically the top selling points. Using a seasoned real estate agent can make the home building process much easier for the client knowing that they have someone looking out for their best interests and can ultimately save the client money.