Should I Buy New Construction or Resale Home?

When buying a home in Northeast Georgia, your options as to new construction may be limited.  Most buyers I work with relocating to the Gainesville/Hall County area who specifically want new construction end up buying at either Reunion Country Club or Sterling on the Lake.  Both of these neighborhoods offer new construction starting in the high $200s and have wonderful neighborhood amenities.  

Relocating buyers come to Northeast Georgia working in a variety of industries.  Many buyers are coming here to work with Northeast Georgia Health Systems, both on the Gainesville and Braselton campuses.  Other companies bringing jobs and people to the area are Wrigley's (150 new jobs)  as recently reported in this Gainesville Times article and Kubota, adding 650 jobs at Hall County's Gateway Industrial Centre off of GA 365 with a large expansion as reported here.  

You will find new construction in scattered spots around the county built by whom we refer to as 'scattered lot builders' in contrast to the 'big box builders' such as DR Horton and John Wieland.  Recently, I worked with two couples relocating from Arizona with The Forestry Commission.  I find it interesting that they both bought homes in the North Hall area; one of them bought this new house near Clermont and one bought a resale home.  This new home sold at $199,900 and is a four bedroom/2 and 1/2 bath home.

The 'big box builders' won't be found in areas Gainesville and north.  I'm asked about the advantages and disadvantages of buying resale homes verses new homes.  Also to consider is whether to buy from the 'big box builder' or one of the smaller builders unknown on the national scene.  

When you buy a new home, there is peace of mind in knowing that all the systems and appliances are new.  Also, builders like John Wieland offers warranties that are transferrable to later buyers.  I enjoy selling in neighborhoods like Reunion where buyers get a thorough orientation prior to closing, explaining the systems and the warranty.  Some of the 'scattered lot builders' are not very organized in communicating emergency contact information to the buyers in the event of plumbing and HVAC emergencies.   If you buy a new home, be sure you have emergency contact information at closing for HVAC and plumbing contractors, as those are typically the most pressing issues in the event of a problem.

When you buy a resale home, you can negotiate window coverings and sometimes even a refrigerator into the deal.  Also, the resale home will have established landscaping.  You can purchase a warranty on a resale home or even negotiate to have the seller pay for the home warranty at closing.  I recommend Fidelity National Home Warranty for buyers of resale homes.  

If you are considering buying or selling in Northeast Georgia, I hope you'll consider contacting me.  I work with husband, David Stovall, my mother, Joyce Waters and sister Kayla Shoemake.  As natives of this area, we know North Georgia Real Estate.

Kim Waters

Associate Broker/Partner

The Norton Agency

770-540-3788

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