Chic vs. Geek: Buying or Building?

We often meet buyers who are debating between buying an existing home and building a new one. Some buyers start out looking for a fixer-upper and end up building their dream home because they couldn’t find the right fit with their budget. What are the pros of each approach?

CHIC (PEARL)

Buying an existing home has obvious advantages like a short turnaround from closing to move in. It also gives you a chance to settle into a new home and a new lifestyle if you don’t want to make remodel decisions right away – or if you don’t have the money for renovations right now. You also have the chance to walk through the actual home instead of picturing it from blueprints, and you’re generally moving to an existing neighborhood with established services and local schools.

GEEK (KEVIN)

It may be faster to move in and get settled in a resale home, but if you truly want to live in your dream home, there’s nothing better than designing your own living space from scratch. You can personalize each and every nook and cranny and take advantage of all the latest features to maximize energy efficiency and save money over the life of the house. And plus, you get that “new car” smell and the satisfaction of knowing that you won’t need to replace any major appliances for a long, long time.