Nothing beats the new home smell.
A newly built home offers numerous benefits but often comes with a hefty price tag.
The average sale price of a new construction home in Douglas and Sarpy counties in 2023 was nearly a half a million dollars compared to about $330,000 for a resale.
It would also be incorrect to assume all new construction homes are created equal.
Click here for a list of all new construction homes for sale.
Ranch Style Floor Plan
One of the most signficant benefits of a new construction home is the practical, open concept, one level floor plans.
The formal dining room is still around but is more often designed as flex space, such as an office or den.
The living room has become the open great room and the kitchen is front and center of the entertainment zone.
You can search for newer ranch homes on the market here.
Which Comes First: Buying Land or Finding a builder?
If you’re like most of my clients, the land and location might be more important than choosing a builder.
In Omaha it’s hard to get both. Most neighborhood lots are developed and sold to builders in what they call a lot draw. This is done prior to anything being offered to sale to the general public.
Most of the undeveloped lots you see on the market are builder attached.
However, if you have your eye on a lot but prefer a different builder, negotiating a lot trade or purchase is common practice.
What is the Difference Between a Spec House and Custom Home?
A spec home is a new home that is finished or under construction. A buyer is only given limitted options, if any, on the materials or features of the home.
Spec homes are usually cheaper and an excellent option when you don’t want to wait 9-12 months for a home to be built from scratch.
A custom house offers total flexibility on floor plan and finishes but will come with a hefty price tag.
A design-build is the term used to describe the process of making minor adjustments to a builders existing floor plan. The advantage of a design-build is that you can choose everything that goes into it, from the kitchen cabinets, countertops, flooring, and light fixtures.
The Resale Sweet Spot
As appealing as new construction might be, a buyer might be able to get the best of both worlds by buying a gently used home.
A 3 to 8 year old home can often deliver nearly all the benefits of new construction without the premium price tag.
Another benefit of a resale home is the appearance of any known defects. Issues like drywall ‘pops’, water drainage, manufacturing, and mechanical defects are not uncommon discoveries in the first few years.