Hello Homebuyer,
All agents here are correct in what they say. On a personal basis, I have done both, purchased a new home from scratch in Columbia and an older home in Ellicott City. I think I had more problems with the new home than I have with the older home! 7 years in my shower stall fell apart! My older homes have had 'worn out' problems like appliances get old and break or a roof needs to be replaced, but they seem to be better built. I can guaranted the tiles in my older home are NOT going to fall off the wall! But the home is way older than 10 years when houses were actually built from scratch! Pros and cons to both. What might help is to find out who built the 10 year home and then google them. See if you find complaints about their building practices. Check with the better business builder to see how many complaints and how they were handled. That goes for the new home builder as well. Things happen with all homes but knowing how a builder handles the problem is most helpful. Also with the 10 year old home, if the seller is not offering a warranty, buy one yourself. That gives you a year of comfort knowing you won't get hit with a high repair bill! Good luck! Cher

I would say the most notable difference is that a 10 year old home simply is what it is. With new construction, depending on the stage the home is in, there are LOTS of decisions to be made. Most of the decisions will cost additional money. Because of this, buying new construction can be more stressful. There are deadlines which are often not met by the builder, there are snags along the way and the builder looks out for "himself" first and foremost. This is why if you do go this route, you MUST have buyer representation. The sales agent works ONLY for the builder. You want someone who will work ONLY for you.

Even taking into account all the possible snags and stresses with new construction--in the end you will be happy. Knowing you have designed your home to your own taste and not someone else's is very satisfying. Builders are really desperate to sell their inventory, so you can get a good deal now. But again--have your own realtor from the start. Good luck whichever option you choose!!

Please let me know if I can assist in any way. I do business in Ho. Co. and would be happy to help.

Lisa Devnew
Coldwell Banker
LDevnew@cbmove.com
410-615-0990

Homebuyer,

A new home does offer many advantages as far as colors, extras, having almost all you could want in a home, for a price. . The 10 year old home, however, may have extras or special features that could cost extra when purchasing a new home.

An older home usually sells with a home warranty which would cover many items. You would also have a home inspection which would identify any serious structural, mechanical, plumbing or electrical problems. Also, you can see your finished neighborhood, talk to some neighbors, get a feel of the neighborhood. What does the kitchen and bathroom look like? Would they need to be remodeled?

With a new home, generally trees, shrubs, grass etc need to be planted. you can expect mud and years before you have a beautiful lawn and garden. Everything inside is new and would need very little improvement, however you will need to purchase new window treatments which may be included in older home.


The key question is: Location. Are both homes in your desired school district? With the older home, you are able to determine if the location is a good resale value from recent neighborhood sales. In the past new homes sold for higher prices when resold, but in today's market, you cannot depend on making a large profit as in the past.

If you would like to discuss the pros and cons in more detail, please contact me.

This is something that you have to decide on your own. I do agree with the previous Agents pros/cons.
A home that has already been established will most likely have all of the "bugs" worked out of it, ie...settlement of the home. Now days most of not all resales offer home warranty for the Buyer and if new
appliances are desired, this too can be negotiated into the offer.
I do hope that you have a Buyers Agent to protect your best interest, without one you are on your own, and people that work for new construction work for the builder and protect their best interest, not yours.
Hope this helps.
Ania
AniaMiller@kw.com

Good question. The benefits of a new construction is you get to pick out your colors, cabinets and some cosmetics. And everything is new and most builders give a 10 yr structural warranty.

Here are the downsides:

-New construction tends to be more expensive
-Lots tend to be worse
-All the extras like custom paint, blinds, decks, patio and landscaping usually are in a 10 yr old home
-You don't know what you will end up with new construction...(for example your neighbors or quirks with the home because they will happen to you)
-The new construction process is long and a difficult process for most
-Interest rates are floating vs locked (or if you lock you end up usually paying higher rates).

Downside of 10 yr old home:
-The appliances and major systems are now 10 yrs old. However, all these generally only cost a small % of the entire house value.

If you would like to explore both new construction vs 10 yr old homes, my team and I ready to help. We know every builder in town and are familiar with all communities. Let me know if I can help further.