CHECK OUT McKINNEY BUILDERS

Buying a new home in McKinney Texas usually requires that you visit quite a few model home parks of new construction homebuilders before you can get a feel for the local real estate values. Visits may include looking at custom homes built by custom home builders, attending builder open houses, and checking out new properties offered by Realtors and knowledgeable McKinney real estate agents or professional buyer brokers.

 McKINNEY REAL ESTATE - IT MOVES

Since the soil is somewhat volatile in the Southwest, Texas home builders generally build houses on post-tension slab foundations to allow the foundation to move with the land. Nearly all Dallas area Realtors and McKinney real estate professionals are aware of the soil movement in Texas and would usually not show property listings or new construction homes built on a basement.

 FIND McKINNEY CUSTOM HOMES 

Some McKinney home builders list their homes for sale through the McKinney MLS or the McKinney Multiple Listing Service. They may also advertise their properties as open houses. These real estate listings are usually from high-end custom home builders selling villas, luxury estates, gated communities or waterfront properties. Most other new home communities fall under the heading of tract home builders and you will usually find them offered as large master planned communities in McKinney and advertised in the real estate for sale or McKinney homes for sale section of the local newspaper.

  AFFORDABLE MCKINNEY HOMES

Tract homes can offer excellent real estate values for home buyers (especially first-time buyers) when buying a new home. Tract-built homes in McKinney can include single family homes, townhomes, townhouses and condos as well as duplexes. Any of these can be built as single-story homes or two-story homes. However, duplexes in McKinney are usually built as one-story houses or “single-level homes”.

 REALTORS IN MCKINNEY

As a note of caution, you should never visit new home communities without your real estate agent or buyer broker present. The builders usually have a policy requiring the Realtor to be present the first time you visit or they will not agree to pay them to represent you as your buyer agent. This is very important to you since there are many issues to watch out for when buying new homes or new construction property from a builder. Since professional new home Realtors are trained to know what to watch for, you should make sure that they are always informed of your house-hunting plans. 

 RELOCATION TO McKINNEY

If you are relocating to McKinney, then you should make sure to request a McKinney TX relocation package of community information containing McKinney property values and McKinney property tax information before beginning your search for a new home. Also, be sure to look into the quality of the McKinney schools serving the area that you are interested in before buying any new McKinney property. Your real estate agent can usually help you with any of this info, but if not, he can probably help you to locate some knowledgeable McKinney Realtors specializing in McKinney new homes and new construction.

 NEGOTIATING WITH HOME BUILDERS

When you speak to a site representative at a builder's model home, you need to understand that their objective is different from yours. Their obligation is to get the builder the highest amount of money for a given home and to close it in the quickest possible time. You are at a disadvantage from the beginning since they have knowledge of all inventory, specials (announced and unannounced) and what is possible in negotiations. Therefore, you would be very wise to enlist the services of an expert buyer's agent specializing in new construction. Since all builders have these fees built in to their marketing budgets, it costs you nothing extra and will probably save you thousands of dollars.

BUILDING NEW CONSTRUCTION

Sometimes, it is possible to find a completed home being offered by a builder at a substantial discount over the latest official "new build" price list. These "specials" are offered because the builder must pay interest on the construction loan once the property is complete and they do not want the property sitting vacant. If you can find one of these properties that you think you might want to buy, make sure that there are no specific reasons why other buyers may have rejected the property -- such as backing up to a busy traffic street or a sewage system runoff nearby.

If you need to wait until the builder can construct your new home, then be prepared to wait four to six months depending on your price range. Custom homes can take up to a year to build, so be prepared. You may find it best to locate a short-term rental property while you are waiting for completion.

BUYING TOWNHOMES IN MCKINNEY TX

If you seek a more "maintenance-free" lifestyle and you are interested in condos in McKinney or would prefer to live in a McKinney TX townhome or townhouse, be sure to check out the association bylaws and budget. Associations must plan for contingencies such as new roofs and fences, so there should be ample reserves set aside to fund these future liabilities. In addition, monthly revenue from homeowner dues should be adequate to cover not only the recurring expenses but should also generate an excess to constantly add to the reserve account.

 If you are unfamiliar with these financial areas of real estate, a Realtor offering professional buyer representation or specializing in buyer agency and in condos or townhomes in McKinney will offer the most protection.