Scott P. Rogers
Funkhouser Real Estate Group
540-578-0102  •  email
Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Buying vs Building
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.