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Showing posts with label New Construction Homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Construction Homes. Show all posts

Friday, March 22, 2024

Why Buy New Construction

Why Buy A New Construction Home

Buying a new construction home in the St. Louis and St. Charles County areas of brings benefits and advantages that resale properties just cannot offer. Here are a few reasons numerous Missouri real estate buyers have opted for a newly constructed home:

Know What You Are Getting

When building a home, you have the opportunity to witness the construction, ensuring transparency and eliminating surprises upon moving in. Understanding how your home was built and what lies behind the walls is invaluable. You will also be familiar with operating and maintaining your home's equipment, with your builder available for any assistance you may need. Moreover, the builder should offer a warranty, in addition to any manufacturers' warranties that might need to be activated by the buyer.

Get What You Want

When buying new construction, you don’t have to settle for outdated designs or eccentric decorations left behind by others, nor do you have to invest in revamping the previous owner's upgrades. New-home builders provide a variety of designs, floor plans, and premium features from the layout to the cabinets and flooring. With new construction you have the opportunity to personalize your new home to match your style and preferences.

  • New homes often include advanced appliances with updated features.
  • They are equipped with more electrical outlets and can be wired for internet and other technology needs, including charging stations and streaming capabilities.
  • New homes tend to be larger than older ones, with the average size increasing from around 1200 square feet to 1900 square feet.
  • Typically, new homes come with 2-3 bathrooms, whereas older homes averaged 1-2 bathrooms.
  • Bathrooms and kitchens in new homes feature luxurious amenities such as expansive islands, storage solutions, stylish vanity mirrors, linen towers, walk-in showers, and oversized tubs.
  • Some new homes offer advanced technology options like programmed lighting, security systems, and intercoms.
  • Many homebuilders provide assistance to help potential buyers secure affordable financing for a new home.

 

St. Louis New Construction Homes

Less Maintenance Than Older Homes

With a new home, everything is brand new, minimizing concerns and repair needs. Today's new homes often feature siding, window, and trim materials that seldom require painting. Many exterior elements of modern homes demand far less maintenance compared to older properties. Materials like vinyl siding, fiber cement siding, 30 to 50-year shingles, fascia/soffit materials, and vinyl trim pieces are exceptionally low maintenance. Builders typically offer walk-throughs and warranties that cover the initial year of ownership (varies by builder).

Built Better Than Ever

There have been remarkable advancements in building technology. Building codes have become significantly more stringent, while the design and inspection processes are now much more detailed than in the past. New homes are not only safer but also highly energy-efficient, leading to savings on energy bills. Improved indoor air quality is achieved by using healthier products with fewer allergens. Modern building products perform better, have longer lifespans (depending on the product), and often boast enhanced aesthetics. Some government-regulated products may have shorter lifespans due to specific regulations and limitations. Appliances serve as a prime example of products with reduced lifespans.

 

New Construction Homes in St. Charles County, Missouri

More Safety Features

If safety at home is important to you, know that today's new construction homes are much safer than older homes for many reasons.

  • Residents of modern new construction homes are nearly six times less likely to succumb to fire compared to those in older homes.
  • The majority of new homes are equipped with hard-wired smoke detectors on the main level, often interconnected with those on the upper floor. Note: specific smoke detector regulations and placements are mandated by the municipality or county.
  • New homes are equipped with central heating systems, reducing fire risks associated with space heaters or wood stoves common in older homes.
  • Circuit breakers are standard in new homes, replacing fuse boxes that may overload with the wrong fuse size.
  • Ground fault interrupters are installed in key areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoors to mitigate fire and electrocution hazards.
  • Contemporary homes feature tempered glass that crumbles instead of shattering into sharp fragments, reducing injury risks.
  • New home communities offer safer surroundings with amenities like sidewalks, cul-de-sacs, open spaces, playgrounds, pools, and clubhouses to enrich your lifestyle.
  • Purchasing a new home allows you to enjoy customizable features tailored to your preferences.
  • The abundance of safety measures in new homes may lead to lower insurance rates.

It's important to have the assistance of a REALTOR experienced in new construction to navigate the St. Louis and St. Charles County area new construction market. Click Here to find out why.

More Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is greatly improved in new homes. Energy efficiency codes, including regulations for ceiling, wall, and floor standards, have become more stringent in recent years compared to the past. Also, modern heating and cooling systems now use half the energy they did in previous years.

Warranty

When purchasing a resale home, you won't receive the extensive warranty provided by new-home builders. Professional homebuilders go beyond by providing a 1-year comprehensive warranty, a 2-year assurance on electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling systems, and a 10-year structural guarantee (specific terms may vary by builder). Investing in a new home now more than ever ensures peace of mind.

brand new homes for sale st charles missouri

Maintenance

When purchasing a new home, you can expect many years without the need to re-roof, replace the furnace, address plumbing issues, or renovate the kitchen. Acquiring a new home provides the advantage of predictable housing costs for the foreseeable future, enabling you to plan your budget with ease. Thanks to modern home construction methods, your time will be less consumed by maintenance tasks, giving you the opportunity to fully appreciate your new neighborhood and lifestyle.

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Want to enjoy a fresh start with a brand-new home? The Boehmer Team consists of top performing Realtors and specializes in new construction sales. Contact us today to learn more about how we help homebuyers buy new construction homes.

 

 

 

 

Monday, August 28, 2023

Using a REALTOR to Buy a New Construction Home

Why Use a REALTOR to Buy New Construction

One of the most common questions we are asked is “Do I need a Realtor to represent me when purchasing new construction?”  The answer is pretty simple. While it is not required that you have representation, a Realtor can play a valuable role in your purchase of new construction. Whether you are buying new construction or an existing home in the St. Charles County or greater St. Louis area, The Boehmer Team realizes the importance and value of the Realtor in every step of your home purchase. 

Building your own home is an exciting yet sometimes complicated process. There are many details to consider - from choosing the right builder to calculating costs and finding the best community for your needs. The Washington Post says when, “buying a new constructed home, an experienced real estate agent is essential.”

when buying a new constructed home, an experienced real estate agent is essential

The Boehmer Team is specially trained in the new construction field. We have worked with builders in the St. Louis County and St. Charles County areas of Missouri for years. We will work with you and your builder towards a smooth process every step of the way.  A good real estate agent can make the new home buying process a dream come true versus a job.

Here are some ways a The Boehmer Team can assist you specifically with your New Construction purchase:

  • Assistance in selecting the community and neighborhood that best meets your needs and that of your family.  Important factors that many homebuyers consider include: school districts, community amenities, access to shopping and recreation. 
  • Help with home site selection including its location within the community, the size of the lot, facing direction, orientation, and surroundings are all evaluated.
  • Determining which structural features are most important to you and what features are will benefit you for a future resale. 
  • Assistance choosing colors and materials for interior and exterior finishes.
  • Explanation of construction progress and terminology as well as assistance in managing expectations.
  • Understanding the value of surrounding homes and comparable homes so that you pay fair market value for your new home.
  • Offering objective professional advice and insight during all phases of the process.
 
Help with buying a new contruction home

Contact The Boehmer Team today if you are considering a newly constructed home or have additional questions regarding buying or selling a home. Or visit our website TheBoehmerTeam.com and check out our pages dedicated to new construction in the area.

 

Thursday, January 5, 2023

The Truth About New Construction “Specialists”

The Truth About New Construction “Specialists”

It seems that more and more Realtors are marketing themselves as a “New Construction Specialist”.  We see a lot of real estate agents in St. Louis and St. Charles County, Missouri use this term every day, and it brings about a fair question in our opinion.  What exactly is it that makes them a “Specialist” in the area of New Construction?  

 

It appears that most of these Realtors are branding themselves as “New Construction Specialists” because they have represented an undisclosed number of buyers that have purchased new construction.  However, having sold 2, 3, 5 or more new construction homes does not make you a specialist by any measure.  Even ten or more sales merely make you better versed in new construction, certainly not a “Specialist”.

St. Charles County New Construction Homes

We are fortunate in our profession that we can brand ourselves any way we choose.  Often times, it can be a misleading claim that consumers fail to question or confirm.  There are several things to consider when hiring a Realtor with claims of being a New Construction Specialist”. 

  • How many buyers have they represented purchasing New Home Construction?
  • How many different builders have they worked with when representing a buyer?
  • How many different neighborhoods have they represented a buyer in when purchasing new construction?
  • Do you accompany your clients on the contract, structural meetings, walk throughs, color selections, etc.?
  • Have they ever worked on the builder side of the business?
  • If so, in what capacity?
  • Have they ever represented a builder in new construction sales?
  • If so, how many homes did they sell and how long did they sell?
  • What price range of homes did they sell for the builder?
  • Are they familiar with the builder side of the business regarding land costs, development costs, building and material costs, supply and demand challenges, customer service policies and material specifications? Working on the “builder side” also means representing the builder as a community sales representative, construction manager, service representative or any position where you work directly for the builder.
  • How do they feel they add value as your buyer representative for new construction?
  • Do they have any professional designations that they have earned regarding New Construction?
  • Are they a certified New Construction Specialist as recognized by the National Association of Realtors (NAR)?

brand new home - st charles county

Truth be told, in order to be branding yourself as a “New Construction Specialist”, at a minimum you should have a designation from NAR or your brokerage.  The course should be detailed and include 40 or more hours of training by a qualified professional.  An agent should also have sold a variety of new construction homes, in a variety of municipalities, by a variety of builders in varying price ranges.  

 

The most experienced Realtors are those that have served 10 plus years on both sides of the transaction, both the builder side and the brokerage side.  An added bonus is a Realtor that has had the opportunity to spend time not only selling new construction as a builder representative, but serve time at a management level understanding the challenges that builders face every day.  

 

If you are looking for assistance with your new home construction purchase, contact The Boehmer Team.  We meet the criteria and will put our knowledge and expertise to work for you. 

 

 

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Lighting Your Home Right

Lighting Your Home Right

Have you ever gone into a room that just felt good but you couldn’t put your finger on why? It could be the lighting. In a well-lit room, everyone feels relaxed and looks their best. This is why it is important to be considerate of the bulbs and fixtures in your home and how they can create a more inviting environment that encourages people to linger.


Use Dimmers

LIGHTING MISSTEPS AND CORRECTIONS

  • Lighting Misstep: Avoid overly bright overhead lights that can tire the eyes.
  • Correction: Install dimmers.

  • Lighting Misstep: Not matching the function of the room.
  • Correction: Localize and layer your light sources to focus lighting on the main functions of a room.

  • Lighting Misstep: Using different types and colors of bulbs in the same room.
  • Correction: Learn about light bulbs and choose a similar type of bulb throughout a room to avoid different colors and frequencies of light that could make a room feel disjointed.

  • Lighting Misstep: Using lighting at all the same height.
  • Correction: Implement lighting at different heights to fill a room with soft light and create better ambiance.

 

LIGHT IT RIGHT – ROOM BY ROOM


Entryway Lighting

Entryway Lighting: The entryway is where your lighting story for your home begins.  Fun and functional lighting like an entry table lamp and overhead light make a great start and set the stage for the rest of the home.

Living Room Lighting

Great Room Lighting: This is a place to put our feet up or have great conversations with friends and family. Add light to your seating areas with table and floor lamps. To draw the eye up to a high or vaulted ceiling, use overhead lights. If the room has standout architectural features highlight them with a spotlight or sconces.


Kitchen Lighting

Kitchen Lighting: When lighting a kitchen, it’s about merging style with function. Good overhead lighting and lighting for cutting surfaces is important. One of the most visible forms of kitchen lighting are pendants that hang over islands or peninsulas. You can choose to have them blend in or stand out. A good tip is to match your pendants to the materials on your cabinet hardware.


Dining Room Lighting

Dining Room Lighting: In a dining room, the lighting is one of the main focal points. This is the place to splurge on lighting and put up your favorite chandelier, as it will hang at or a little above eye level. Don’t forget to install a dimmer switch in this room to set the mood. Want to tie in the dining room lighting in to your kitchen space? The tip here is to use a material or shape that is cohesive with the kitchen design.

 

Bedroom Lighting Tips

Bedroom Lighting: Bedroom lighting starts with overhead light. This could be a pendant, flush, lighted fan or chandelier. Then coordinate your secondary lighting choices like table lamps or sconces by choosing a similar material, color or shape that appears in your overhead lighting.

 

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While touring and selling St. Louis and St. Charles County real estate, The Boehmer Team have seen all kinds of ways that people light their homes. Our favorite tip is to be sure to use the same color and type of lighting within the same room. In other words, don’t make a room disjointed by mixing halogen and LED lights in the same space. Also, don’t forget to utilize natural light to brighten your spaces and save energy. Check out some of our favorite places to shop for home lighting: Houzz.com and Wayfair.com. When you’re ready to sell a home, contact The Boehmer Team to help you stage your home – and its lighting – to make it looks its best so that you get the most value from your home sale.

 

 

Friday, March 26, 2021

Picking the Perfect Lot

Picking the Perfect Lot

To be perfectly honest, the phrase “perfect” rarely applies to a lot. It really comes down to what features make it perfect or most favorable for the buyer. Choosing the lot or home site where a home will be built is an important part of deciding to build a new home and should be one of a buyer's first considerations. 

 

If you’re building new construction real estate in the St. Louis or St. Charles county area, find a lot you can appreciate for years as well as one that will appreciate in value. When considering features that make one lot better than another, there are a variety of things that may be important.

 

Quick Summary: How to pick the perfect lot.

To choose the perfect lot to build a new home, one needs to consider: location, size, direction, elevation, drainage plan, surrounding areas, utility pedestals, lot premiums, and what builder options there are for the lot among other details. A local Realtor experienced in new construction can help you address these considerations and guide you through the process of building a new home.


How to pick the best home site

Location

The home site one buys is likely where you are going to live. If you have children in school you’ll need to pay attention to area school district boundaries. If you work outside the home you’ll need to factor in your preferred commute time. Check if the lot is close to shopping, parks or restaurants that you frequent. If the lot is in a new neighborhood being built, you’ll want to consider the neighborhood amenities and/or HOA fees. It's a good idea to check with the municipality you are considering to see if there are specific rules or guidelines that apply. 

 

The Direction of the Lot

We understand that the direction a home will face is often important to buyers. Whatever the reason, the direction a home faces is often considered to be one of the most important factors that buyers consider. Be sure your Realtor and homebuilder know if the direction of the lot it of upmost importance to you.

 

Home site on a hill
 

Hilly Versus Level Lots

Do you prefer a level lot or a home built into a hill with a backside of windows to see the view? Think about what you want and what you might be willing to work with.  After all, a truly level lot does not even exist. Due to grading plans and required drainage swails, completely level lots pose a variety of issues and challenges.  While a lot may be mostly level, there are sure to be areas that have slight elevations. 


Lot Premiums

Homebuilders may charge a lot premium or additional charge based on lot features and location within a community. Lots with more space, that offer a good view, or something that sets them apart from other lots may draw a lot premium.

 

Choosing the best home site

Builder Options for a Particular Lot

The choice of homebuilder options may be different based on the lot you choose. If you have a piece of land in mind that you want to build on, you may have a variety of home builders that will help you build develop on the land. If you purchase a lot within a particular neighborhood, you’ll likely only get to use the homebuilder who is developing that neighborhood. So if the homebuilder is important to you, check to see if they can build on your chosen lot or what lots they have available.

 

See our list of Preferred Builders in the St. Louis area.

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If you want a home crafted for you with the latest building technologies, The Boehmer Team can help. We’ve assisted hundreds of new construction buyers in the St Louis and St. Charles area as well as helped many sell their current homes. From budget to builder, to lot and material selections, to final paperwork and closing, we represent and protect the interest of new construction homebuyers to make the process go smoothly. Thinking of building or buying new construction? Contact us or visit BuyNewAndNow.com to see a list of new homes that are currently for sale.

 

 

Friday, August 14, 2020

New Home Opportunities in a Competitive Market

New Home Opportuities in a Competitive Market

If you’ve been home shopping recently for St. Louis or St. Charles County real estate, you’ve probably noticed something – things are rather competitive. Currently there aren’t as many homes available for sale as there are homebuyers trying to buy homes (known as a sellers market). Homebuyers are having more difficulty procuring a home they want against all the competition. Those who consider buying new give themselves another option. How about you? Have you considered buying new?

 

Already Built New Homes in St. Louis

Builder Inventory Homes

Homebuyers can buy a new home often for a similar price as a pre-existing one. Check out homebuilders’ inventory of already-built or being-built homes that have yet to be sold.  Every month that a completed home doesn’t sell incurs costs for the homebuilder, so builders may be more motivated to sell homes in their inventory.

Often times inventory homes are priced including promotions and incentives that you would receive had you built the home from the ground up.  Builders also choose top-selling floor plans with the most popular features and finishes for their inventory homes so they appeal to today’s buyers.  Many buyers love the idea that they see exactly what they are getting when buying a home from inventory. Buying an inventory home is often a very smart move for today’s buyer for a number of reasons. 

We’ve put together a webpage specifically so you can see what builder inventory homes are currently available for sale in our area. Check out our New & Now page to see the many great new home opportunities available.

 

St. Louis New Homes For Sale

Historically Low Interest Rates

Interest rates are still historically low. This means you can get more house for your budget. If you need help finding a reputable mortgage lender, contact us to offer some suggestions of home lenders to check out. Also, don’t miss trying our mortgage calculator to find out what your monthly payments might be based on the price of a home, the interest rate and length of the loan. 


New Homes For Sale in St. Louis

Using an Experienced Buyers Agent

Experienced buyers specialists, like the ones on The Boehmer Team, can help you with the home buying process at little to no cost. Our job is to help you find home buying opportunities that match your needs and help you through the process of purchasing a home, which is especially helpful in a competitive market. 

 

Our network provides us access to homes being prepared for the market that aren’t even listed yet. We also know of off-market listings to show our homebuyers. Using a Boehmer Team Buyer Specialist gives you an edge over trying to procure a home on your own.

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If you are a homebuyer currently looking for a new or pre-existing home to buy, contact The Boehmer Team. We can help you procure your dream home and even help sell your current home. Reach out any time for a no obligation home buying or selling consultation and learn our strategies to help buyers and sellers. 

 

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

How To Get Started Buying New Construction

Updated 10/27/2019 Due to Popular Demand

How To Get Started Buying New Construction

Buying a newly constructed home in the St. Louis or St. Charles County areas can be an exciting adventure. New house smell? Check.  Custom to your design and function needs? Check.  The latest in home building technologies? Check.  What about where to begin? Or which home builder to trust? Um…  This is why contacting a Realtor with experience in new construction homes is the first step of the journey to owning a new home. We help new homebuyers understand the process and check off every single box for the project. 

When you contact a Realtor or home builder about buying new construction the conversation will likely begin with a variety of questions about your needs. So before you even make that first call, determine your answers to the following questions.


Buying New Construction? Start By Answering These Questions


Determine budget for new construction home

What is your budget?

Knowing how much home you can afford will help you choose the best new construction home for you. To help you determine budget, you can use our handy mortgage calculator to calculate approximate monthly payments. Also, you’ll want to reach out to a mortgage professional to give you the best mortgage rates based on your credit score. Keep in mind if you are purchasing a property that includes a monthly fee, that fee must be considered in the amount of home you qualify to buy.
Need a good mortgage professional? Contact The Boehmer Team and we’ll give you some names of trusted local professionals.
Do you have a home to sell in order to help pay for a new home?
Selling a current home can be a big part of paying for a new home. If you have a home to sell, tell your Realtor so that they can create a competitive market analysis for your home to determine its current market value. A qualified Realtor can tell you what to expect on the sale price of your home, how long it has taken to sell comparable homes and what concessions may have been made to sell comparable homes. This will give you an idea of how much you will have toward your new home.


new construction home time frame

Do you have a time frame for when you must be moved into your new home?

If you have a deadline by which you must be moved into your new home, it is important to tell your Realtor. This will help determine whether you have the time to completely build a home from scratch or if you would be better off looking at other great options for buying new construction like buying a home currently being constructed or buying a builder inventory home.


Where do you want your new home to be located?

Determine the area where you want to live. Some good things to consider are school district and commute time. If you already have property where you want your new home built this may change your options for which builders you can use. Some builders create custom homes at any location, while others work within communities that they are building.



new construction home design

How involved do you want to be in the home design process?

The amount that you customize a home will affect your time frame and price. While builders allow choice of materials for the interior and exterior of a home, some materials cost more than others so these choices will affect your overall price. Design choices may also affect price as well as move-in timelines as it takes time to choose and order materials.

What are your must-have features and amenities?
Know the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and garage spaces you require. Think of the other amenities that you’ve been dreaming of too, like a fireplace, main floor laundry, additional separate office space, deck, mudroom with dog wash or something else.  Make a list and be prepared to give it to your Realtor.


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Do you have your answers? Or do you need help determining the answers to these questions? Contact The Boehmer Team for expert assistance with every detail when buying new construction. Want to learn more about us? Check out our Meet The Team page or some of our client testimonials from clients who have previously worked with The Boehmer Team.