Joe Muck

When you’re buying a new construction home, closing costs are the “extra” line items that show up on top of the home’s purchase price. They’re due at the closing table, and they cover everything from the lender’s services to local government recording charges. Typical closing costs on a new construction home include loan origination fees, … Read more

Buying a newly built home feels different from buying a resale, but the inspection rhythm is still critical. A new construction home benefits from three distinct checkpoints: before the walls close, just before you take keys, and again near the end of the builder’s warranty. Below is a practical timeline, what each phase covers, and … Read more

Recent data shows that new construction homes can, at times, be less expensive than existing homes, though it depends on how you measure.  In May 2024, new builds sold for $3.50 less per square foot than existing homes ($209.70 vs. $213.20), the first time in years that newly built homes undercut older ones on that … Read more

Buying a new construction home does not require a Realtor, and many buyers choose to work directly with the builder’s sales representative in the model home. You can register, select a lot, and purchase a new build without a Realtor, but you take on every step of the buying process yourself. That includes comparing new … Read more

Shopping for a brand-new home feels a bit like unwrapping a present in slow motion. You get to watch ideas become wood framing, walls, and, finally, keys to your new front door. But the process of buying is different from buying an existing place, so let’s walk you through the process, step by step. By … Read more

A new construction home is a brand-new home, built to today’s codes, that has never been lived in. By contrast, an existing home, or resale, is a property that has already had at least one owner or occupant. Even a newly built home counts as “existing” once someone has moved in, so lenders and insurers … Read more