Buying A San Diego Home
“My wife and I want to sell our 2-bedroom Mission Valley condo and buy a house in north county. She keeps talking about new construction, but I think a resale home is smarter. Which do you think is suggest?”
***ANSWER:
It depends. Buying a brand-new home can be exciting and complicated. Here are some pro’s & con’s, many that you probably never even thought of.
New Home Advantages:
- You often can choose your lot
- You choose colors, flooring, appliances, counters, cabinets, and floorplan options
- Everything is brand-spanking-new when you move in
- Some builders offer special incentives or financing
New Home Drawbacks:
- You may have to wait many months for the home to be built, and new construction often goes way over schedule
- Most new homes are far from central San Diego, leading to a traffic-filled commute to work and activities
- Traffic patterns and other negatives may not reveal themselves until after you’ve moved in
- BIG: Cost of upgrades and landscaping are often vastly underestimated
Resale Home Advantages:
- You see the actual home you’re buying…not a spiffed up model with $100,000’s in upgrades and fancy furniture that you don’t get
- Decor, appliances, and landscaping are already there, saving you a bundle of cash
- You can tell what the neighbors, area, and traffic will be like
Resale Home Disadvantages…
- The owner’s tastes may not be yours (or any normal person’s), so you may need to do some work
- The home may need repair
BIG TIP: If you’re considering a new home development, ask people who’ve moved into earlier phases if they’re happy and what problems they may be having.
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