Florida New Home Construction Vs Resale

New construction is the best value for home buyers in today's market and the benefits of purchasing a new home in Florida vs a resale home are many!

Sheila Stephensonis a Florida new homes expert who understands the value of new construction as well as the quality of life that North Tampa Bay, Florida has to offer.

That is why Sheila focuses primarily on Florida new construction homes in select North Tampa Bay new home communities that offer the highest quality of life and best value for her clients.

New Construction Homes - Price

Many re-sellers who bought their home when home values were overstated have not adjusted to the current market and still believe their home should be worth what it could have sold for in it's "heyday."

Builders, on the other hand, have adjusted to the reality of the current market and with so many Florida new home communities springing up, they also know they must compete for your business. What this translates to is better prices, more included features and added incentives.

Builders have written down their land costs, changed specifications and have lost the fluff and overhead they once had worked with. They've had to basically change their business model to fit today's market and lower Florida new home prices are a reflection of that!

The cost per square foot for a Florida new construction home is typically better than a resale home and is often competitive with short sales. When an appraisal is done and closed homes are pulled, short sales are included, reducing the appraised values for all homes.

Although this isn't necessarily fair or correct, it has kept current home values at an all time low and Florida new home builders are the only ones that can compete.

Florida homeowners are also not rushing to put their homes on the market to sell them at a loss. Instead, they are sitting on their property and waiting it out for the market to improve, which will happen slowly over time.

What this all boils down to is that if you are considering selling your home at a loss and buying at today's prices, it would be a wash because with time, your Florida new construction home will increase in value just as the old one would have and you will have recouped your equity.

Most Florida new homes also have a longer life expectancy than resale homes, giving them a longer period of time to appreciate.

New Construction Homes - Efficiency

Today, most Florida new home builders have embraced the "green" philosophy and are designing "eco-value/ eco-friendly homes that are more energy-efficient, offer state-of-the-art features and green technology.

Most Florida New construction homes are now built with enhanced home performance and healthy living in mind because homeowners are realizing that what it costs to live in their home is just as important as the initial purchase price of their home.

Builders have begun to include, as standard, items like:

• Stronger and more durable windows
• Cleaner, more efficient HVAC systems
• Increased insulation values in attics and walls
• Better air ventilation and humidity level controls
• Programmable thermostats
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Water saving fixtures
• And more

Many new homes are designed to meet EPA's stringent Energy Star® program standards, which are carefully inspected and monitored throughout the building process.

New construction homes offers homeowners increased personal comfort levels, enhanced home performance, lower energy and outgoing home ownership costs each month (savings can be as much as 39% in Florida's sub-tropical climate).

New Construction Homes - Warranty

There is a certain amount of comfort knowing that you won't have to fix or replace anything right after you move into a home, especially a costly item like the AC unit, water heater or a major appliance.

Most builders now offer Florida new home buyers a full one year warranty on everything in the home. Mechanical systems and appliances may have additional warranty periods that extend beyond the initial first year.

Purchasing a resale home is a totally different ball game then buying a Florida new home because with a resale home, you don't really know what your getting. Unforseen Problems are usually not covered under warranty like a Florida new home.

Even if you hire a home inspector, which you definitely should do, an inspector can't "guarantee" the house won't have problems. All they can really do is inform you as to whether an appliance or system is currently working and 'guesstimate' on the life expectancy of that item. Beyond that, a resale home purchase is a buyer's risk.

New Construction Homes - Personalizing Your Own Space

Often times, when you purchase a resale home, you also purchase the previous owner's vision and decorating tastes.

With a Florida new construction home, you have the opportunity to choose what you like from the start, including such options as: elevation, cabinetry, flooring, wall color, fixtures, counter tops and the list goes on.
You can actually personalize your new home before you ever move a single box or piece of furniture!

Even if you enjoy "doing-it-yourself," you must factor in the costs of making changes and upgrades, which can quickly add up with a resale home. Stained, dirty carpet replacement? - Several thousand dollars. Update a kitchen? Granite, 42" cabinets - Now we are talking BIG money!

Just visit the kitchen center at Home Depot or Lowes and you will get a better understanding of the kind of out-of-pocket expense and investment you will be making.

New Construction Homes - CDD/HOA Fees

A lot of people say they don't want to pay high new home community fees, mainly because they don't understand what those fees are actually used for. CDD/HOA Fees take care of such things as clubhouse, pool and grounds maintenance, street lights, roaming security, etc.

CDD/HOA Fees help preserve the overall quality of life of the community and keep it looking as beautiful as it did the day it opened. The street-scape is fresh, grass and hedges are maintained and flowers are changed with the season. If you were to compare this to an older community without CDD/HOA Fees, you would definitely see the value and difference!

CDD/HOA Fees also help to preserve the resale value of your home because a home buyer will generally choose a well-maintained community over a run down looking one.Florida New Construction Homes For SaleSheila Stephenson specializes in new construction homes in the following North Tampa Bay areas:

• Land O' Lakes, Florida
• Lutz, Florida
• Odessa, Florida
• New Tampa, Florida
• Westchase, Florida
• Wesley Chapel, Florida

For more information about Florida new homes for sale, please fill out the online contact form or giveSheila Stephensona call at (813) 514-5930.

Sheila knows Tampa Bay, Florida Real Estate. Let her do the work for you!