Buying a brand-new home sounds straightforward.
Pick a community. Tour the models. Choose a floor plan. Select some finishes. Sign a contract.
But new construction can actually involve more decisions than buying an existing home, and those decisions can affect your purchase price, monthly expenses and future resale value for years.
There are also two very different types of new-construction buyers I work with throughout Palm Beach County:
- Buyers purchasing directly from a national or regional builder in communities such as Westlake, Arden, Avenir or other new developments.
- Buyers purchasing vacant land and working with a local builder to construct a home specifically for them, something particularly relevant in Loxahatchee, The Acreage, Loxahatchee Groves and other areas with larger homesites.
My role in either situation is not simply to show you a house.
It is to help you evaluate the entire transaction.
Buying From a National Builder? Speak With Your Realtor Before Visiting
If you are considering new construction in a master-planned community, contact your Realtor before your first visit to the builder's sales center.
Builder policies regarding Realtor registration and buyer-agent representation can vary. In some cases, the builder may require your Realtor to be identified or registered from the beginning.
The sales team inside the builder's model center is there to sell that builder's homes. Having your own Realtor gives you someone who can independently evaluate the transaction from the buyer's perspective.
That becomes especially valuable when you are comparing several communities rather than simply deciding between two floor plans from the same builder.
For example, a buyer interested in western Palm Beach County may want to compare Westlake homes and new construction against Arden, newer resale homes, or even an acreage property in Loxahatchee.
I can help you compare those options rather than being tied to one builder.
The Advertised Base Price Is Only the Beginning
One of the biggest mistakes buyers make with new construction is comparing advertised base prices.
A home advertised at one price can look very different after adding:
- Homesite or lot premiums
- Structural options
- Extended patios
- Additional bedrooms or bathrooms
- Flooring
- Cabinets and countertops
- Appliances
- Lighting
- Impact windows
- Pools
- Landscaping
- Fencing
- Design-center selections
Then there are HOA fees, taxes, insurance, closing costs and financing considerations.
A builder may also be offering incentives on certain inventory homes, homesites or financing programs.
My goal is to help you determine the real finished cost of the home, not simply the number on the advertisement.
This is also why I often recommend comparing new construction against newer resale homes. A resale property may already include a pool, fence, window treatments, upgraded landscaping and tens of thousands of dollars in improvements.
Read my guide to newer communities in Palm Beach County or my detailed comparison of Westlake vs. Arden.
Lot Selection Matters More Than Many Buyers Realize
The house itself is only part of the investment.
Two identical new homes can eventually have very different resale appeal depending on their locations within the community.
I help buyers evaluate considerations such as:
- Lakefront vs. interior lots
- Cul-de-sac locations
- Road exposure
- Future construction
- Backyard orientation
- Privacy
- Easements
- Adjacent amenities
- Lot dimensions
- Homesite premiums
You can change countertops later.
You cannot move your house to a better lot.
That is why I encourage buyers to think beyond what looks best in the model home and consider how today's decisions may affect resale five, ten or fifteen years from now.
What If You Want to Build a Home on Your Own Lot?
This is where new construction becomes an entirely different process.
Throughout Loxahatchee and The Acreage, buyers frequently consider purchasing vacant land and hiring a local builder rather than buying inside a traditional master-planned community.
I can assist with that process as well.
Before deciding that a vacant lot is the perfect place for your new home, there are several questions that should be investigated.
Depending on the property, considerations may include:
- Zoning and permitted uses
- Lot dimensions and setbacks
- Road access
- Surveys
- Drainage
- Flood considerations
- Wetlands
- Clearing and site preparation
- Fill requirements
- Well and septic
- Utility availability
- Driveway access
- Permitting
- Impact fees
- Construction financing
- Building costs
A relatively inexpensive lot can become considerably more expensive once site-development costs are included.
That is why buying the land correctly is just as important as choosing the builder.
Choosing the Right Local Builder
Once the property makes sense, the next step is evaluating builders.
I can help buyers research and compare local builders rather than simply selecting the first company that provides an attractive floor plan.
Important questions include:
What exactly is included in the quoted price?
One builder's "standard" package can be very different from another's.
What are the allowances?
Cabinets, flooring, appliances, plumbing fixtures and landscaping allowances can materially change your final budget.
How are change orders handled?
Changes during construction can quickly increase costs.
What is the payment schedule?
For custom construction, the financing and draw process can be very different from purchasing a completed home.
What experience does the builder have with this type of property?
Building on acreage in Loxahatchee can involve different considerations than constructing a home inside a prepared subdivision.
Buyers should also independently verify contractor licensing and perform appropriate inspections throughout the construction process.
I Can Help You Compare Building vs. Buying
Sometimes building is absolutely the right decision.
Other times, after adding land, clearing, site work, construction costs, financing, a pool, driveway, landscaping and the time involved in construction, an existing home becomes the better value.
That comparison is particularly important for buyers considering Loxahatchee homes with acreage.
Instead of starting with the assumption that you have to build, I can help compare:
Vacant land + construction
versus
Existing homes
versus
Nearly new resale homes
versus
National-builder new construction
The objective is to determine which option gives you the strongest combination of location, home, land, budget and long-term value.
Why Work With Me on New Construction?
As a full-time Palm Beach County Realtor and longtime local resident, I work extensively throughout the western communities where some of the area's greatest new-construction opportunities are located.
I am also not tied to one builder or one community.
If a home in Westlake makes more sense than Arden, I will tell you.
If a newer resale represents a better value than building new, we should look at it.
If buying acreage and working with a local builder gives you the property you actually want, we can explore that route too.
My job is to help you make an informed real estate decision, not simply sell you whichever model home we happen to walk into first.
Buyers can also explore current Wellington homes for sale, Loxahatchee real estate, Westlake homes and other Palm Beach County communities directly through my website.
Considering New Construction in Palm Beach County?
Whether you are thinking about a national builder, a quick move-in home, a future build in a master-planned community, or purchasing an empty lot and building from the ground up, I would be happy to help you evaluate your options.
Contact me before visiting the builder or purchasing the land.
We can compare communities, builders, homesites, incentives, resale alternatives and the complete cost of getting the home you want.
Victor Velazco, REALTOR® | ABR®
Echo Fine Properties
Bilingual English & Spanish Real Estate Advisor
Call or Text: 561-269-9465
[email protected]
VictorVelazco.com
