An age-old question is whether to buy a re-sale home or build a new home, especially as your price range gets above $400K or $500K.
Typically, the tension between buying vs building is one of:
1. Goals
2. Money
3. Timing
If you build, you can get the house you want, but you'll pay more for it and it will take a lot of time and attention.
1. Goals = Win
2. Money = Lose
3. Timing = Lose
If you buy an existing home, you won't get exactly what you want, but you will pay less for the house and the process will not be a drain on your time.
1. Goals = Lose
2. Money = Win
3. Timing = Win
Don't let my oversimplification of this issue fool you -- this is something that buyers can get stuck debating for months, or even years, often while looking at resale homes to try to convince themselves to buy instead building.
AND -- two current market conditions are making it an even more complicated decision...
- Inventory levels of resale homes are extremely low, which is making more folks consider buying a lot and building a home.
- Building costs are extremely high, which is making more folks second guess a decision to pursue buying a lot and building a home.
If you are stuck in this quagmire, I'd be happy to meet with you to talk through some of the pros and cons and try to help you come to a decision you'll be pleased with in the short and long term.