Buying a New Home vs. Buying an Older Home

When purchasing a home, you have two choices, buy a home that is already built, or build a new home. They both have their advantages and drawbacks, and hopefully I can give you some insight into the advantages/disadvantages of both. I have been selling homes in Logan, Utah for the last 9 years, this is some expertise I have gathered along the way.

Advantages of buying an older home:

Larger Building Lots - With the amount of land available dwindling by the day, homes that were built years ago come with bigger lots. This especially holds true in larger cities, the bigger the city, the less room there is to build. If you want a bigger lot, most the time you are going to have to live in the country, and the price of land is only going to go up.

Price Per Square Foot - In older homes, unless they have been updated, usually come at a cheaper price per square foot. If you want more home for the money, buying an older home, and updating it yourself could be a sound investment.

More Character – Older homes come with character, and I have noticed when selling homes, younger couples like older homes because of the character. They feel more rustic and an older home feels comforting, it makes you feel like your back home when you were younger.

Mature Trees And Vegetation – Older homes have had time to settle in and the landscaping is well into it’s prime. An older home with large trees, mature plants, and a well groomed yard can create great value.

Disadvantages To Buying An Older Home

Maintenance - As a home ages, appliances age to, as well as other things. If you want your home to maintain value over time, it’s key to keep up on routine maintenance, and if you don’t, you could see your home falling apart before your eyes. No one likes a leaky roof and adding new shingles is one part of routine maintenance.

Wiring And Plumbing – Depending on how old a home is, these two key elements to a home could become a major nuisance. If you buy an older home with bad plumbing, leaky pipes, or frayed/old wiring, you could expect yourself to put a lot of money into fixing these problems.

Outdated - When buying an older home, if you want to resell it, you are probably going to have to do some updating to get a good price. In today’s real estate market, it’s very competitive, and an outdated home is extremely hard to sell. (However, an outdated home that is updated can create some instant equity if done right.)

Advantages To Buying New Construction

Less Maintenance - One of the main reasons to build a new home is the maintenance factor, you won’t have to worry about putting up new shingles or buying a new furnace anytime soon.

Warranties – Most states have a warranty program that requires builders to warrant their work for a certain number of years. In a new home the appliances should all have a warranty on them as well, so if something does go wrong, it shouldn’t be an out of pocket expense.

Modern/Up To Date - Most new homes come with all the fixings, new appliances, air conditioning, modern cabinetry, and new carpet. Newer homes are also held to a higher code that wasn’t around when some older homes were built. As they say, newer homes are more “Green” then older homes.

Energy Efficient - Speaking of Green homes, new homes come with newer appliances, which are more energy efficient. A new home will also have newer insulation which will make the homes themselves more energy efficient.

You Get What You Want – When building a newer home, probably the biggest advantage is customization. You get to choose if you want upgrades, what upgrades you want, and how the home will look; including floor plans, exterior, interior, and the landscape.

Disadvantages Of Building A New Home

Conformity – A lot of newer homes look similar, especially if they were built by the same builder, or in the same community. A lot of builders have a few homes they build, and they just add little things to them to make them look different, but the floor plans are generally the same.

Immature Trees And Vegetation - The last thing to be added to a new home is the landscaping, and sometimes people don’t plan for it. I have seen people build new homes, and not get around to the landscaping for years after the home was completed.

Time And Money – Building a home takes time, unless your using Extreme Home Makeover, it’s going to take months to build your new home. Building a new home can also have unseen costs, which is why it’s important to pick a reputable builder that won’t add extra costs during the construction of your new home.

Finding A Great Lot - After you decide you want to build a home, you will have to find land to put it on. Great lots are expensive, and finding one that is within your budget that has a great location can be tough.

Whether you’re looking to buy a new home or an older home, do your home work, and find a good builder/real estate agent that is going to look after your best interests. Good Luck!

Article written by Lisa Udy. We found it HERE.

Counter Top Options and Their Pros and Cons

By: Sonia Smith

Whether you want to build a new home or enlarge your kitchen, the right material for your counter top is a necessary ingredient to make cooking time more enjoyable for you. Counter tops can make a huge difference on the value of your home and the correct material will bring out the chef in you. In choosing your counter top, you should consider durability, beauty, style and the price of the material and the installation ease.

Your counter top may wind up as your office desk, cutting board, food preparation surface, hot food, headquarters for snack bar. You need an attractive and durable surface. Below are several pros and cons of your kitchen counter top choices:

1. Solid counter top is made from a blend of acrylic and polyester. This material gives you numerous options. Solid material is nonporous, thus making them excellent in food preparation and difficult to stain. Solids can be made into any shape and size. Nevertheless, avoid placing hot pans directly on its surface since intense heat can pop seams discolour the surface. You will spend $45 to $75 per square foot.
2. Engineered stone top is a mixture of both natural stone and beauty with the advantage of solid surface materials. It is also nonporous, scratch and stain resistant. Like genuine stone, it has hard surface that could be slippery and cold to the touch. Price is $65 to $85 per square foot.
3. Granite-rock solid and natural counter top is affordable and more common. They are available in different edgings and colors that may be crafted. The seams are lightly more visible in granite and hot grease stains. Nevertheless, it needs very little maintenance and costs from $75 to $125 per square foot.
4. Soapstone and marble tops are softer and require more upkeep and prone to stains and scratches. However, they are reasonable and provide distinctive alternatives.
5. Laminate is the best widely used material in your kitchen improvement. It is also low in maintenance and affordable. The material is grease and stain resistant and has different colors and patterns. However, the dark under layer may be visible and the top is susceptible to hot pans and sharp knives damage. It easily melts at a contact of a cigarette tip and once impaired, it is difficult to fix. The cost is from $15 to $60 per running foot.
6. Ceramic tile brings out the artist in you and you can create the style of your choice. The material is resistant to heat, scratch and can be replaced easily. The grout can stain or collect food particles, therefore paving the way to bacterial penetration. The tiles may chip or crack and dulls your knives when used in cutting. The high-gloss finish may be ruined by scrubbing with abrasives. The cost is from $4 to $8 per tile.
7. Stainless steel is very favorable to the high-technology crowd. It is the choice of many upscale restaurants. It is tough on stains, hot pans and creates a contemporary kitchen look. It shows scratches and nicks easily. Avoid using scouring powders and steel wool for cleaning. It requires solid and firm underlayment or else it will dent and cold to touch.
8. Butcher block uses end-grain hardwood. Its natural and warm, appearance is an attractive choice and perfect for cutting and chopping. It is easy to install and repair and you can easily sand out surface scratches. It should be sealed often, cleaned immediately and treated with mineral oil. Its protective surface sealers are not frequently safe for food and sensitive to humidity and not advisable on very humid places. This also scorches and dents easily and infected and resealed when contaminated with meat juices or dirty vegetables. The price is around $50 a running foot.

The above items are just a few of your many options as a homeowner. Ensure to weight your choices thoroughly before you choose. Consider you and your family’s preferences and needs.

Choosing a Home Builder

By: Rob Harding

When deciding on building a home, it is not only a stressful event in your life, it is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make. Whether you are buying a condo, a townhouse, a house in a subdivision, or a custom built house, you want to know that you are buying a good quality home from a reputable builder. The home builder you choose can make building your new home a success or a nightmare. Here are a few things to keep in mind when picking a home builder that you want to build your new home.

1. Make appointments to meet with home builders you are interested in. Your discussions with the builder can determine a lot by the answers to your questions that are important to you.
2. Compare builders on the same criteria. Choose a specific job, such as shower, there should not be much variance between home builders. Prices will vary though amongst the home builders. If price is the deciding factor, pick neither the highest or lowest, all other things being equal.
3. Look for quality and value. When looking at new homes, really inspect the quality of workmanship and place a value. Check out open houses and model homes to look at. Model homes are commonly furnished, providing insight on how to use your space within the home. Also, see if you can see an unfurnished home for comparisons. Inspect the cabinetry, carpeting, trimwork, and paint throughout the home. Ask the builder or the builder's representative a lot of questions.

These are just a few things to consider and look into when choosing a home builder. This is a great time to purchase a new home with the interest rates so low. So choose a home builder who builds quality along with value. Having both can make the difference in building your new home.