DREAM HOME

Finding The Best Home Builder
Posted by Deanna Joy Beltran on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 6:15 PM By Deanna Joy Beltran / January 5, 2023 Comment

How to Buy from the Best Home Builder

Whether you plan to buy a single-family home, condo, or townhouse, buying in a new development can cause years of issues if you don’t choose a property with a solid, reputable home builder.

It’s exciting to consider buying new construction, a brand-new home suited to your specific needs and taste. Yet unlike the resale homes, there are no previous owners to provide disclosures detailing issues with construction, lot, or property. In this case, one is relying on the builder to provide a high-quality home in both construction and materials.

As with any home purchase, doing your homework ahead of time can save you thousands of dollars over the long run. Start by researching the builder of the subdivision. Check for other projects, both current and past. Visit any projects still available and drive by the other properties to see how the homes have weathered. Watch for signs of repairs, such as new roofs or paint.

When visiting the model homes, watch for the qualify of construction. Do the doors and drawers open and close smoothly? Are the floors finished at the baseboards neatly? Ask for a tour of unfinished homes as well. Check to see if the workmanship is uniform and careful.

Finally, have a home inspection before closing on the property. A staple of the resales housing market, few homebuyers of new construction consider it. By taking the time to do your research ahead of time, you can make the right choice in a new home.

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Dream Home Checklist
Posted by Deanna Joy Beltran on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 10:58 AM By Deanna Joy Beltran / December 8, 2021 Comment

Pre-approved? Know what you can afford? That means it is time to start house hunting! The hunt for your dream home can stall quickly if you aren’t sure what your “dream” looks like.

It’s easy to talk in generalities about wanting a “big” house or an “older” home, but in order to have a more specific real estate search, you must think specifically about the features you want or need. Will your “big” house be 2,400 square feet or 5,000? When you say “older” home, do you mean one built pre-1950, or pre-2000?

Before continuing on the search, sit down and make a list of your needs and wants — and yes, those are two different things. Think about the things that are needed (amount of bedrooms, yard space, garage, etc.) and the rest of the things that would be nice, but you probably could live without it (pool, etc.)

It is important to note that your lists will most likely change as you learn more about your housing options. Location, such as proximity to the beach, may start as a priority, but once you see the size of ocean-front homes in your price range, the drive to the beach may be more reasonable. Unless you have an unlimited or extremely flexible budget, there will probably need to be compromises along the way.

Below are tips and questions to help you figure out what you do and don’t like about your current home, so that you can find more comfort and pleasure in your dream home. Take the time to rank specific home features in lists such as “Must Have,” “Like to Have,” and “Don’t Care.”

Know your finances

Having your finances in order before house-hunting can make all the difference in a competitive market. Determining your budget and how much financial wiggle room you have can help clarify your must-haves.Ask yourself: 

  • Are you pre-approved...