NEW BUILDER HOMES

Before you begin your search for a new builder home please refer back to our "Buying Property" page and go to sub topic "Builder Homes."  It explains very clearly why you need an agent to represent you.  Furthermore, in the Sunday, August 10, 2008 edition of the Houston Chronicle Newspaper, in the Real Estate section and under the "Ask George and Chuck" column, the question was asked, "My husband and I are buying a home and are days away from closing when we noticed what looked like a road being constructed between the main road and our street.  We later found out it is new railroad tracks that will be going in.  If I had been told this from the start I would have never looked at this house let alone buy it... can I get my money back that we put down?  I feel there was improper disclosing of this information."  Answer:  the effect of a railroad track can be devastating.  There was a recent case on this in New Braunfels, Texas and the Plaintiff was successful in prevailing... "the broker admitted he knew the track was imminent."  Many times there are green belt areas behind homes in builder subdivisions.  The sales representative says that they are "not sure" what if anything is going there.  You need an experienced and trustworthy broker to represent you. 

View all the below sites as each of these websites are updated at various times.   Viewing all of them will give you a complete picture of what new homes are available now.  You may find one easier to navigate as opposed to the other two.  

New Homes #1
New Homes #2
New Homes #3
JD Power Ratings
  

EXISTING HOMES

Many times existing homes are better buys than new builder homes.  For the following reasons:

• The stability of the neighborhood has already been established.
• They may have all the modern upgrades and even more than new homes.
• They have $10,000-$100,000 + in landscaping that a new builder will not have.
• Depending on the price of the new home many older homes are better constructed.
• They offer more square footage for the dollar.
• Home Warranty programs are excellent for homes older than 10 years or no longer covered by the builder.