Houston has one of the most active new-home markets in the country, and plenty of great resale homes too. Here's how to decide which is right for you — or whether to shop both.
Why buyers love resale homes
- Established neighborhoods: mature trees, finished landscaping and no construction next door.
- Often larger lots than newer subdivisions.
- Room to negotiate on price, repairs and closing costs.
- Known tax picture: you can see the actual tax history and the MUD rate.
Why buyers love new construction
- Builder warranties — commonly one year on workmanship, two on major systems and ten on structure (check each builder's terms).
- Incentives such as rate buydowns or help with closing costs, especially on homes that are already built.
- Choose your finishes and get newer energy-efficiency standards.
Things to watch with new builds
- Bring your agent to your first visit. Many builders won't let your agent represent you if you've already signed in at the model home alone. Call me before you go, or have me register you.
- Builders use their own contracts, which are written to protect the builder. Read them carefully.
- Get independent inspections — at pre-drywall, before closing and again before your one-year warranty ends.
- Plan for taxes to rise after the first year, when the finished home is appraised.
My advice
Shop both. Compare the total monthly cost (payment, taxes, HOA and insurance), the commute and the lot — not just the price. I can set up a search that includes resale homes and builder inventory side by side.