New construction guides
Plain answers to what people ask before they buy a new home. Start wherever you are.
I sell new D.R. Horton homes, so I work for the builder, which is the seller. These guides explain how buying a new home works, in plain English. Sources are linked on every page.
Deciding and the process
- How Buying a New Construction Home Works, Step by StepIf you're just starting
- Should I Buy a House Now or Wait?If you're just starting
- Risks of Buying New Construction, and How to Handle ThemIf you're just starting
- First-Time Buyer? What to Know Before You Buy NewIf you're just starting
- How to Decide on a House Without Second-GuessingIf you're just starting
- Why Buyers Choose New ConstructionIf you're just starting
- Questions to Ask a Home Builder Before You SignIf you're comparing
- Buying New Construction When You Have a Home to SellIf you're comparing
Money and financing
- New Construction vs. Resale: What It Really CostsIf you're just starting
- Budgeting for a New Construction Home: The Hidden CostsIf you're just starting
- Prequalified vs. Preapproved: What's the Difference?If you're just starting
- What's Really in a Monthly Mortgage PaymentIf you're just starting
- Down Payment Options for a New Build, ExplainedIf you're just starting
- Closing Costs on New Construction, ExplainedIf you're just starting
- Mortgage Rate Locks on New Construction, ExplainedIf you're just starting
- The Real Cost of Owning a Home, Beyond the MortgageIf you're just starting
- Builder Incentives Explained: What They're Really WorthIf you're comparing
- What Is a Rate Buydown? 2-1 vs. PermanentIf you're comparing
How it gets built
- How a New Construction Home Gets Built: Every StageIf you're just starting
- How Long Does New Construction Take?If you're just starting
- Inspections on New Construction: Who Checks WhatIf you're just starting
- What Happens Before a House Goes Up: Site PrepIf you're just starting
- Slab vs. Crawl Space: Which Foundation Is Better?If you're just starting
- Is Your New Home's HVAC the Right Size?If you're just starting
- Framing a House: What to Look ForIf you're just starting
- What Is a Pre-Drywall Walkthrough?If you're just starting
- Drywall, Trim and Finishes: How to Spot QualityIf you're just starting
- New Construction Final Walkthrough: What to CheckIf you're comparing
Choosing the home
- How to Choose a Floor Plan You Won't OutgrowIf you're comparing
- How to Pick the Right Lot in a New CommunityIf you're comparing
- Design Center Upgrades? How Picking Finishes Works at Collins RidgeIf you're comparing
- Elevations and Exterior Colors: How It Works at Collins RidgeIf you're comparing
- Kitchen Upgrades in a New Build? What Comes Standard at Collins RidgeIf you're comparing
- Which Direction Should Your House Face?If you're comparing
- Energy-Efficient Features in New Homes, ExplainedIf you're comparing
Community and area
- Find D.R. Horton Communities That Fit YouA quick finder, by area, size and layout
- Living in Hillsborough, NC: Honest Pros and ConsIf you're just starting
- How Far Is Too Far to Commute?If you're just starting
- Pros and Cons of Living in a New DevelopmentIf you're just starting
- What to Look For Near a New HomeIf you're just starting
- Buying Early in a New Development: Pros and ConsIf you're just starting
- How to Choose a New Construction CommunityIf you're comparing
- What Do HOA Fees Cover, and Are the Amenities Worth It?If you're comparing
After you move in
Ready to look in Hillsborough
When you know what you need, these get you from a short list to a visit.