Six Steps to Buying and Building a House

Buying and building a new house can be manageable and enjoyable with these six steps to your newly built home.

Whether you’re a new-home enthusiast or you’re a little skeptical that a new home can be full of character, charm and be built to a high degree of quality, you’ll find that New Home Source offers helpful resources for your new home search.

Are you confused about the difference between a resale and a newly built house? How can you be sure a new home will have quality construction? Do you have to be rich to build a house? We’ve got answers to these questions and many more.

To help get you started on your new home search, check out these six steps to buying and building a house.

Once you feel comfortable with these steps, explore the many helpful articles in each category. And, when you’ve got a clear picture of what new homes have to offer, check out some of the new homes available in your area on NewHomeSource.com. Happy searching!

Step 1: New Home 101 

Doesn’t sound like a step, right? Well, it’s important that you first know what new homes are all about before you decide if a new home is right for you. Investigating what makes new homes a good option versus an existing home will help you decide not only if this is the right choice for you, but it will also help you narrow down options about which type of new home is right for you.

Step 2: Shopping for a New Home

We know what you’re thinking, “Shopping is easy and fun!” We agree! But, we also know there are lots of things to learn about when it comes to buying a new house and that there are lots of questions that need answering. This crucial step will help familiarize you with how to find the right neighborhood, what to look for when choosing a builder and getting the most from your builder’s sales pros.

Step 3: Buying and Financing

Before you go out and fall in love with a home that’s out of your budget, it’s important to get your finances in order. The first step to all of this is to know your credit score and credit history. If it’s stellar, great! If it needs some work, get started on repairing it. Once you understand where you stand financially, it’s time to figure out how to finance your new home. This is the step where you’ll learn about down payments, how much home you can afford, your builder’s closing process and more.

Step 4: House Style

Ah, yes. This is truly the fun part. Who doesn’t want a home that fits their lifestyle to the T? If you choose a production builder, you’ll pick from a collection of floor plans and then you’ll be able to personalize it through options and upgrades. You’ll visit your builder’s design center where you’ll choose faucets and fixtures, cabinets, flooring, lighting and much more. If you are building a custom home, you’ll work with your builder to create a floor plan. The best part is that both choices offer the ability to individualize your home for your family and lifestyle.

Step 5: Building Process

This is when the magic happens. Depending on the type of home you’re building, it can take anywhere from six to 10 months to complete your home. The complexity of your floor plan will also factor into your timeline, as well as which part of the country you are building in. We know that buying a home is often the biggest purchase you’ll make, so it’s important to understand the building process. To help clear any misunderstandings and to help alleviate any stress, understand your builder’s process, know who’s on your building team and learn what goes into a high-quality foundation (sounds boring, unless you’ve ever lived in a home that had foundation problems).

Step 6: Settling In

Home, sweet, new home! Yes, you’ll have fun decorating and settling into your new home, but maintenance is important too — just as you would maintain a new car, you too should maintain your new home. And, there’s home warranties to understand too. Now that you have all of that out of the way, it’s time to enjoy your new home. Throw a housewarming party in that new kitchen or simply sit back and relax. Welcome home!

Patricia Garcia

Patricia L. Garcia is an award-winning freelance journalist who has written for NewHomeSource, the Associated Press, New Mexico magazine and the Texas Bar Journal. When not writing, she can be found in the garden, battling weeds and high-desert heat.