Reader Question: I live in a city of about 300,000 people where real estate prices are high. There is a short supply of both low and mid-priced homes here. The situation is complicated further with a shortage of affordable rentals.
However, there is an ample vacant land supply surrounding the area. Improved lots sell for anywhere from $50k to $100k, depending on the topography, soil or rock, trees and availability to the municipal sewer and water.
My budget is about $330k tops. My credit is very good. I have some construction skills but no time to build a home myself. What are the pros and cons of building a home against buying a used home? Todd P.
Monty’s Answer: Hello Todd, and thanks for your question. In most communities, the cost of building a new home sets the upper limit of value. The marketplace dictates very few people will buy an existing home if a comparable new home can be purchased in a similar neighborhood for the same price. There are exceptions to this rule in well-established communities where there is a housing demand and no suitable land available to develop into lots. Your comments suggest a market where local demographics supply and demand inventory are out of sync.
The potential pros and cons of building a new home.
|
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Create inventory – when market choices are limited and concessions unacceptable | Fewer neighborhood choices – eliminating established neighborhoods limit choices |
| Brand-new – there is something special about a new home | extra cost of landscaping – often not included in a new home price |
| Flexibility in materials – Impacts cost, design, maintenance and more | Generally higher purchase price – cost sets the upper limit of value |
| Lower utility costs – advanced designs increase efficiency | Possibility of construction defects – even new homes can suffer defects and human error |
| Lower repair and maintenance cost – time is required for components to age and wear out | Not an established neighborhood – vacant land brings future risk |
| Choice of contractors – different philosophies, skill and building methods | Possible occupancy delays – weather and materials |
| Control over quality – Copper piping or PCV? Brick and stone or plastic siding? | A greater investment in time to create plans, detail specification pricing and select builder |
The potential pros and cons of buying an existing home.
|
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Lower purchase price – created by functional and/or economic obsolescence | Higher repairs and upkeep costs likely – roofs are expensive, landscaping gets overgrown, exterior finishes fade or require paint |
| Extras often included – Sellers often leave items that “fit” the property. Landscaping, draperies, water softeners, garage door openers, appliances and more | Hidden, improperly repaired or unknown defects – occasionally, people sell to escape a defect or a problem, or are not aware of it. |
| Established surroundings – what is next door or in the backyard is already known. | Higher utility costs – components, equipment and construction methods less energy efficient. |
| Generally requires a smaller investment in time than building new | Accepting concessions – there is no perfect home so we make trade-offs |
To help sort this situation out, consider following the steps below to help clarify your choices. Find a real estate agent with MLS access to confirm your understanding of the marketplace. This exercise provides confirmation to your observations. Also, consumers that build new homes can avoid cost overruns by investing time in a set of working plans and specifications and not make changes during construction.
- Determine features (size, number of bedrooms, baths and room count).
- Set a theoretical price to invest in a developed lot.
- Search the market for prices of existing homes with needed features.
- Get a plan drawn by a lumber company (may be free if you buy lumber).
- Develop a specification list of components here (http://bit.ly/MSfgsM).
- Get 3 competitive bids from builders here (http://bit.ly/Jb5LVg).
- Identify 3 available lots and confirm lot pricing.
- Compare the average cost of existing vs. new.
Is building new worth the difference in cost? The exercise above turns your opinion (and opinions of others) into real information to help decide, and interactions with the people involved will provide new information to consider.
While the supply may be tight, perhaps a method to overcome this is by changing home shopping tactics. Seek and obtain a pre-approval letter of commitment from a lender and be ready to show a proof of funds statement to a seller. Change your approach to new listings by requesting immediate notice and work your schedule to view it on day one of the listing.
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