Building a new home in Stapleton, or any neighborhood, from the ground up can be a great experience.  My family and I did it, we love our new home and I’ve been lucky enough to help other families navigate the building process as well.    That said, buying new is very different from buying a resale, especially when it comes to the contract that is used.   Builders have their own in-house contracts they use rather than using the Colorado approved forms, which were designed to handle resale transactions.  My goal is to help buyers understand some of these differences between a builder contract and a standard resale contract.  I’m a big supporter of the builders so I don’t want this to come off as negative, but these are the recurring issues that buyers ask me if they can change when they read the builder contracts.

7 Things to Know about New Home Builder Contracts:

1.  Earnest money on a new build is typically much more than a resale.  A builder is building a home for you and allowing you to pick all the structural upgrades and finishes.  There is risk involved with that (if you fall through that next buyer may not love the green carpet you picked!) so they usually require earnest money upon signing the contract and then additional earnest money as a percentage of the finishes that are selected along the way.  (amount varies by builder)

2.  The buyer’s loan “out” may not be as favorable as it is on a resale.  On a resale transaction in Colorado buyers can back out all the way up to their Loan Objection Deadline if they have a loan problem, typically with no loss of their earnest money.  With new builds, a buyer typically has 30 -45 days to back out based on loan reasons but there are often penalties that the builder will hold back from the buyer’s earnest money.  Even if they tell you there is a loan “out” be cautious and read the fine print in their contract.  If the buyer’s loan falls through late in the building process the builder typically keeps the earnest money.

3.  Builder contracts are not contingent upon an appraisal.  Meaning if the appraisal of the home comes in low once it’s built the builder is not obligated to drop their price to match the appraisal.  The lender can still lend on it but because it appraised low the buyer will have to bring more cash to the table to keep the lender happy.  The buyer can’t back out if the appraisal is low, unlike a resale, without losing earnest money.

4.  Builders typically give themselves 1 – 2 years to build the home per the contract.  This always makes buyers nervous.  They are expecting to have the home built in 8 months based on conversations with the sales staff but when it comes time to sign the contract the builders give themselves a ton of leeway and most builders say they have 2 years to build it.  (I’ve never seen one last even close to 2 years)

5.  Inspections on a new build are different.  When you inspect your home on a resale you can back out of the deal if you find issues.  If you find issues on a new build you can’t back out but they will fix them for you if you are still in the building process.  (or under warranty after closing)

6.  Builders do not offer a lot of flexibility for changes.  Buyers should know that most builders are “production builders”, meaning they build off a preset plan they offer their clients.  Builders aren’t typically set up to make a lot of custom changes, so what you see in the floor plan is what you get.  “Custom” builders are the ones who serve clients who want to build something completely unique where changes are encouraged.

7.  Lastly, new build contracts involve time frames that are much longer than resale ones, so buyers can’t lock their interest rates right away because lenders don’t usually lock rates that long.  New home buyers will need to wait to lock their rate later in the building process.  In a rising rate environment this can be nerve racking.

So those are the 7 most common issues that buyers have once they review their builder contracts.  Am I saying new homes are bad compared to resale?  Absolutely not!  They are a great fit for many of my buyers because they offer flexibility, customization and often the longer building time allows the client to sell their existing home.  I just want buyers to go into the contract process knowing it will be a little different than the resale transactions they’ve done in the past.

Can anything be done by buyers to negotiate on some of these items from the builder contract?  I’ll give you the attorney answer….it depends!  Your leverage as a buyer depends on the state of the market and currently it’s a seller’s market…so builders don’t need to be flexible on making changes for their buyers.  If you don’t like their terms there are other buyers that do right now.  As the market balances, and eventually shifts back to a buyer’s market (real estate is always a cycle) buyer’s will gain more power and builders will be more eager to adjust some of these contract items.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t try to improve the contract but I want to be upfront with clients that if they want a ton of changes made to the contract it’s not happening in the current market.

Hope this has helped set the right expectations regarding some of the differences between builder contracts and resale ones.  If you have questions or if I can be of service as you make your next move I’d love to help!  As a Realtor I’m not affiliated with any one builder so I can show clients the new and resale market to help them find the home that fits their needs!



116 Comments

  • Bryan
    Posted August 17, 2015 9:51 pm 0Likes

    Hi,

    Help!

    Can you back out of a contract if a structural defect is found? Concrete block wall overhangs the slab by 2″ in multiple areas.
    has already failed inspection by city and call for structural engineering review.

  • Norman
    Posted February 1, 2016 8:48 pm 0Likes

    Let’s say a buyer entered into contract on a new home build and paid upfront for the extras he chose (Earnest Money) as well as a lot premium. The home falls out of escrow and the original buyer does not receive a refund on the Earnest Money. The builder is now selling the home with the price to include the already paid for lot premium and extras that they recieved from the original buyer. Is there anything that can be done to negotiate a lower price for the home based on the money the builder has already received for the home?

  • Joe Phillips
    Posted February 1, 2016 11:51 pm 0Likes

    Norman, thanks for your comment on my post. No, I don’t believe the next buyer has any ability to get a lower priced based on the previous buyer’s loss of earnest money. The two things really don’t have anything to do with each other, the market value of the home is the market value of the home..regardless of whether or not the builder/seller made money from previously selling it to another buyer. Especially in this hot Denver market, the builder will be able to sell it for full market value to another buyer.
    I hope this helps. It’s just my two cents. Thanks

  • Dana
    Posted March 31, 2016 7:27 pm 0Likes

    Can I back out of the contract because I am just not happy with how things turned out? Do I have to buy the house after it is built?
    How can a person be forced to buy a house?

  • Anonymous
    Posted July 13, 2016 10:30 am 0Likes

    …because you signed a contract saying you would buy it???

  • Patel
    Posted July 15, 2016 6:58 pm 0Likes

    I’ve just sign contract for to build new home, How many days within i can get my money back.
    I singed on day before yesterday, As per laws in Texas? is it possible to get earnest money back as my mind changed.

  • Rhonda Stubbs
    Posted July 26, 2016 11:11 am 0Likes

    We are suppose to close on our new house on 7/26 @ 1030. Twelve hours before closing I get a call from the corporate office stating they are canceling our contract because my husband has had to many issues with the quality of the build. Is this legal. We have already sold our house and now we will be “homeless” in 26 days as I cannot get out of my contract. Do I have any rights in this manner.

  • anonymous
    Posted September 16, 2016 9:19 pm 0Likes

    The other day my husband signed a contract for a new property that the previous buyer fell through on. Can the loaner take away your contract and give it to a previous buyer after you was told that they fell through. Are they allowed to do that

  • Jasper Whiteside
    Posted October 6, 2016 9:04 pm 0Likes

    It’s very comforting to know that you have never seen a build take two years. A similar situation just happened and I was feeling a bit worried. Feeling that I can trust the contractor is important to me. After all, this is going to be my home for years to come.

  • Anonymous
    Posted February 17, 2017 1:29 am 0Likes

    Just curious, was the builder Thrive home builders? We had something similar happen to us.

  • Ralph Hughes
    Posted May 31, 2017 4:37 am 0Likes

    Hi Joe Phillips, nice suggestions. Can you guys suggest me should i hire a home builder or should i purchase a already build home.
    Thanks

  • Veronica
    Posted September 21, 2017 12:37 pm 0Likes

    If u don’t get your walk thru is the contract that you signed broken every wall is up in the house this a new construction build

  • Boda
    Posted October 2, 2017 9:00 pm 0Likes

    Just enter into a contract with my builder not yet sign the final contract. Is it possible to back out now before signing the final contract as we’re not cot comfortable with the new variation that the builder want us to sign for. Please advice.

  • Ashley Maxwell
    Posted October 10, 2017 10:31 pm 0Likes

    Thanks for your comment about how you should know the difference between a new builder contract and other house contracts. I like how you said that you can choose how to finish and upgrade it. My parents are considering new home construction for sale to move into a new home.

  • Benson Bondstone
    Posted October 16, 2017 6:50 pm 0Likes

    It’s amazing how involved a builder contract is! Great steps outlining what to look for.

  • Jaime
    Posted November 8, 2017 12:09 am 0Likes

    So, I’m confused. We just entered into contract with a builder, gave earnest money and was told we need to make a 10% deposit to design team for upgrades. Does any of this money get credited towards closing costs? I’m just thinking wow so now I need closing costs plus design deposit plus down payment…what happened to the money I already gave?

  • cindy
    Posted November 25, 2017 8:57 pm 0Likes

    We signed a builder contract and paid $2000 deposit for earnest money. The sales person didn’t say it is non-refundable before we signed the contract. Now we found the garage floor has many cracks, the big one is from one side all through to the other side. We have to back out. The sales person says you can back out but no deposit refund and we also need to pay $250 administration fee to them. What should we do? Can we ask for some money back?

  • cody
    Posted December 18, 2017 3:22 am 0Likes

    My builder hired a company to come in and dig my basement. they hit nasty muddy ground. they had to get a engineer out there and say what they needed to do to sure up my ground so I could have a basement . I ok’d the change order to get if done but come to find out they had dumped 7 loads of the wrong size rock in the basement hole and had to dig it out…. I feel I shouldn’t pay for the wrong rock or the man hours putting it in and taking it out. What are my options? My builder is acting like its between me and the guy he had hired and I disagree.

  • Bibek
    Posted December 30, 2017 6:17 pm 0Likes

    I am going to sign a contract with by builder in the near future to build a new house. However, I am very new in this area with limited knowledge how the process moves forward. Is there any benefits to keeping a realtor from the beginning?

  • Peter Nguyen
    Posted March 14, 2018 2:35 am 0Likes

    I signed negotiations contract to build a new home but I decided to take something out from my upgrade contract can I still renegotiating my contract or back out the whole deal

  • Heather
    Posted April 2, 2018 1:43 am 0Likes

    We signed a contract to build a home, put money down to start the building process. We had mortgage approval but in the meantime my husbands credit score took a hit. The mortgage broker has been working with him to get the score back up to borrow what we need but the builder is threatening to end our deal. We are still in contract but our lot has a for sale sign? Is this legal?

  • Joy Butler
    Posted May 10, 2018 5:17 am 0Likes

    What you said about the earnest that won’t be lost, was really interesting to me. As you were saying in number 3, the buyer can’t back out if the appraisal is low, unlike a resale, without losing earnest money. Could you please explain this further? Hoping to see more of this topic in your next posts.

  • L2 Construction
    Posted May 25, 2018 10:37 am 0Likes

    Very informative blog!!! Thanks for sharing this blog. I really enjoy reading this blog.

  • Duncan Lance
    Posted June 11, 2018 9:55 pm 0Likes

    This was a really interesting read and I have to admit that I had no idea that there was so much to hiring a new construction contractor. I am especially surprised to learn that builders don’y offer flexibility for charges. Although, I guess that that does make sense since you’d want to make sure that you can get paid correctly to begin with.

  • Obed
    Posted June 28, 2018 3:32 am 0Likes

    By canceling a new construction contract and losing your earnest money can the builder come back and try to sue you because you walked out of the contract.

  • Mr.Stanley Coleman
    Posted June 30, 2018 10:43 pm 0Likes

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  • Ridley Fitzgerald
    Posted July 3, 2018 6:08 pm 0Likes

    It’s great to learn more about building a new home. My wife and I really want to build one this year, or at least start, so this is great. If the contract gives the builders 2 years to build, I’ll remember that you said you’ve never seen one last that long!

  • Sutton Turner
    Posted July 10, 2018 5:10 pm 0Likes

    I never knew that builders typically give themselves 1 – 2 years to build the home per the contract. Our new home is now under construction and I am so excited to move in. Thanks for the information on what to know about new home builder contracts.

  • Nicole Ford
    Posted July 17, 2018 3:30 pm 0Likes

    YOU CAN GET A LOAN TODAY IF YOU CONTACT highraising@outlook.com

  • Scott McGregor
    Posted July 18, 2018 10:02 pm 0Likes

    I have so little knowledge about new home builders contract but for sure I will be using these information for future needs. Thanks for this information!

  • Sariah Meagle
    Posted July 31, 2018 2:11 am 0Likes

    My sister and her husband wanted to buy a home because they are expecting their first child. It was explained here that builder contracts are upon appraisal. Moreover, it’s advisable to talk to real estate experts when considering a new home.

  • Wendi
    Posted August 8, 2018 2:31 am 0Likes

    We have put down Earnest money with a builder in Texas. The floor plan listed when we signed the ” contract” has changed. We were not notified by the seller of this change. The change is from a tech center to a mud room. We have actual pictures of the blue prints left in the house this week, that has tech center on it. When questioned about this change, my husband was told they don’t have to notify us. The listing then promptly changed the next day on ALL sites but one. They will not negotiate on price of house. Another house with the same floor plan is 3k less. They have offered to cover the washer, dryer and Fridge. These appliances do not add up to 3k.
    We now stand with accepting the appliances and are asking for 1k towards closing costs. They have”offered” to release us from contract. So, take the offer and call it good. Or stick to our principals? Thanks in advance for reading this an any advice or thoughts. Wendi

  • Wendi
    Posted August 22, 2018 8:01 pm 0Likes

    The Builder decided after some discussion.. to build the tech center.

  • Millie Hue
    Posted February 7, 2019 5:24 pm 0Likes

    Thanks for helping me understand that this information is needed to ensure that the clients will be aware of the new contracts that they might get. I will share this information with my cousin. This is because they will be needing their services to raise the house they just bought to be safe since it is near a river.

  • Builders Kookaburra
    Posted February 9, 2019 7:28 pm 0Likes

    You have raised great points, I find this very helpful on both sides specially for new homeowners. True, Builders usually give 1 -2 years per contract which gives clients a bit of something to worry, but this is only a leeway, usually it only takes a year for them to complete (some might take longer depending on the work needed). And I couldn’t agree more, Real Estate is always a cycle, it all depends on the current state of the market. Thanks for citing this recurring issues!

  • CIA services
    Posted March 5, 2019 1:18 pm 0Likes

    Thanks for pointing out that concrete is durable and low maintenance. My husband and I have been thinking about building a patio in our backyard. I’d love to use a material that won’t require much care after we’ve finished putting it in. I’ll have to see what my husband thinks about concrete as an option!

  • Peter Thomson
    Posted March 11, 2019 6:32 am 0Likes

    You were doing a great job such an excellent article with creative tips. I am so thankful for you and your blog. Thanks for sharing such a informative post to us.

  • Caden Dahl
    Posted March 13, 2019 6:40 pm 0Likes

    If I were to build a new home, I would for sure take all these things into consideration. As you said here, these contracts do last longer than those ones with reselling. I’d always do a bit of research before I went out and hired someone just to be sure that I’m getting a good deal on the home.

  • Dean Phillips
    Posted May 14, 2019 7:03 am 0Likes

    I thought it was interesting how you said that home builders will give themselves one to two years to build the home per the contract. My wife and I are expecting our second child, so we want to move out of our apartment and into a house. Since it takes a while to build a home, we will probably just look for already built homes that are on sale.

  • Mike Maggio
    Posted May 15, 2019 7:36 am 0Likes

    Would be interested in an answer to this. Something similar happened to us 2 mos ago. Rather than fix significant mistakes, they returned all our money, plus inspection fees. Our contract restricted us to arbitration for dispute resolution. It was not worth it to us to go through this, even though we suffered uncompensated damages.

  • Devan Gallimore
    Posted June 8, 2019 6:41 am 0Likes

    So the contract will lock in the price correct? For example, I feel certain that prices are going to rise in an area like Colorado Springs (I intend to move there in January 2020), and interest rates will drop in that same time frame. Would it makes sense to lock in a new home and then finance it in 6 months?

    Thanks!

    Devan

  • Deb Warren
    Posted June 10, 2019 10:34 am 0Likes

    We signed a contract for a new home build and the builder’s representative stated that we had to add a realtor. At the time we were going to use a VA loan, so we added the realtor provided by VA; however, we have never met nor signed any type of agreement with this person. We have changed to a conventional loan and do not want to use this realtor. Can we get them removed from our builder contract? Do we have to use them even though we have not signed any agreements?

    Thanks!

  • Randy Chorvack
    Posted July 11, 2019 10:30 am 0Likes

    I think it’s important to know how long the builders would take to build your dream house. It can be daunting to wait two years for your house to be built, but it’s nice for us to know most houses don’t usually take that long to actually be built. I can understand why they would say two years though, better safe than sorry!

  • Kerry Hardy
    Posted August 7, 2019 6:50 am 0Likes

    We currently have a contract with a builder now and spent several thousand dollars on upgrades and one in particular is our stone for the fireplace
    They have put the stone in backwards and now the stone is ruined because it has mortar on it now and the builder seems irritated to fix it now. We were told by builder manager it would cost to much to fix because they do not want to replace the stone which the brick layers screwed up. The wrong mortar was used as well. So they tried to etch out a quarter inch and put in the right mortar but this mortar did not bond and it’s coming out in chunks plus they rinsed the fireplace with muriatic acid and turned the back of the stone yellow. This was complete shoddy work. Now after I emailed the corporation the Vice President is coming out to look at our fireplace.
    We are not budging or closing on this house until this fireplace is replaced and installed the right way after we paid 1000 dollars upgrade for this stone.
    My question is can the home builder cancel our contract and keep the many thousands dollars we spent on upgrades?

  • Shayla Cademis
    Posted August 7, 2019 8:35 am 0Likes

    Thanks for mentioning that builders usually give themselves a year or two to build the home in the contract but generally don’t take that long. My husband and I are wanting to build our own home so we can better accommodate the needs of our growing family. Hopefully we can find a great contractor in our area!

  • Maryann
    Posted August 27, 2019 10:23 am 0Likes

    We’re doing a new build – smaller condo and it’s at a year and a half. And we still have a few more months to go. So no, it happens.

  • Stella Mary
    Posted September 10, 2019 8:07 am 0Likes

    Buying or constructing a home is a dream of everyone. Usually, most of the money gets spent in this dream event. Hence each penny they spend on this achievement must be worth. The suggestions are most received from this post. Thank you for the very valuable points shared.

  • Ellen McClure
    Posted September 19, 2019 6:29 pm 0Likes

    I walked away from a new construction build after several issues with the buileder and craftsmanship of the home. I found that the materials of the build were not of quality and the loan did not close at the rate at which I was originally quote at time of contract signing 8 months ago. Needless to say I did not close on the home and walked away very disappointed. I do not know if I will get my 3000.00 ernst money in return. I do see however the house is still on the market and may be thinking about giving this home a second try at financing. Please help.

  • Vivian Black
    Posted October 28, 2019 5:34 pm 0Likes

    I love your tip about knowing that builders typically give themselves about 1-2 years to build the home. My husband just got a job offer in Colorado Springs, CO and we need to get a professional to build our new home. We will keep these tips in mind as we find a professional.

  • Tyson Coolidge
    Posted December 3, 2019 8:55 am 0Likes

    It’s good to know that builders usually give themselves 1-2 years to finish a home construction project. My wife and I would like to get a house built for our family, and we want to know how long it could take. We’ll be sure to look into our options for professionals who can help us find the right lot to build on and get the project done in a reasonable amount of time.

  • Sadie Johnson
    Posted December 13, 2019 11:10 pm 0Likes

    Thank you for stating that builders typically give themselves 1 – 2 years to build the home per the contract. My husband and I have been living in an apartment ever since we got married, but we’ve been considering starting a family soon, and want to build a house. I will definitely keep all of your great tips and information in mind in my search for the best home builder to build our dream house.

  • Builder
    Posted December 18, 2019 10:48 am 0Likes

    You explained it very well. I totally agree with you, it is very important that we need to check whether the contractor is licensed or not. Nonprofessionals can waste your time and money as well as they can be put you in some trouble.

  • Extreme Epoxy Coatings
    Posted January 26, 2020 9:47 pm 0Likes

    This blog is definitely helpful and informative. Great blog by the way and thanks for sharing these!

  • Austin Saunders
    Posted January 30, 2020 7:42 am 0Likes

    I like what you said about needing 1-2 years to get your home built. My sister has been telling me about how she’d like to get a custom home built for her family soon. I’ll share this information with her so that she knows how long it could take.

  • rj s
    Posted March 2, 2020 10:47 am 0Likes

    Hi Joe,

    I realize your article is almost 6 years old, but its the most relevant one we’ve come across. We were under contract to build a new construction home by a national builder in Orange County, Florida. We’ve made specific structural design selections (such as plumbing, gas, and electrical locations), which were all included as part of the sale contract. We’ve also made the earnest money deposit. Before the home foundation has been poured, we discovered that the plumbing, gas, and electrical locations do not match what we signed contract on. We’ve alerted the builder’s construction manager, in person, by email, and by text, but no corrections were made. After foundation and walls went up, their mistake has not been corrected, and the builder refused to make the correction. We requested to be released from the contract, and the builder was willing to do so but wanted to KEEP out earnest money deposit. We were able to get back a portion of the deposit, but they still kept back a good amount! We decided to accept their partial refund, and cancel the contract because we did not want to live in a house, spend hundreds of thousands more, and not have it the way we planned it to be (layout wise). Here’s the kicker. We just found out that the builder signed another sale contract with different buyers BEFORE they officially cancelled our contract to purchase the same construction home. We also found out the builder made design changes to accommodate the new buyers of what was still going to be OUR FUTURE HOME, while we were STILL UNDER CONTRACT to purchase the home. We are beyond upset because not only did not keep back a portion of our deposit, but they literally sold the house to another buyer BEFORE cancelling our contract. Is this LEGAL!? Can they do that? Can they sign a contract with another buyer to purchase the same house while we are still under contract to purchase it? And since they did this, can we go back to them to request the full earnest money refunded to us? What options do we have? Thank you!!

  • Anil
    Posted March 5, 2020 5:06 am 0Likes

    Nice one!

  • Lori Holland
    Posted March 13, 2020 10:19 pm 0Likes

    Yes – because you have not closed. But there needs to be a valid reason and perhaps contractually allows; to back out prior to closing. I have seen smaller builders for instance not produce very high end quality homes … larger home builders have longer warranty time times for repairs and normally not always of course, but larger companies normally produce a higher quality end product unless of course they are ‘custom’ builders. I have seen smaller builders nit always complete all requested repairs, corrections plus non follow through punch list remedies. Buyer beware if the ‘small’ builder is an attorney, but yet also a builder. Read the contract very carefully. After voiding they builder had your money ! Have another attorney or a Broker assist prior tobsigning.

    For instance if there’s a walk thru, and things overall you can visibly see are not looking right … for lack of other words and/or you see many, many problems, as we do see more so with smaller builders / companies. We’ve also witnessed smaller builders not completing punch lists timely, other buyers in the new built smaller community waiting for years to have punch lists completed. Basically, if there’s good reason to ‘walk’ / back out, then do so ! I have witnessed life changing horror ‘buyer-beware’ situations with smaller builders. Not all of course. But every now and then the public can unknowingly run into a non-responsive builder (after the closing). One whom you are literally begging to repair & fix things. And in a nut-shell, that’s a situation that can turn bad fast. We suggest being very aware with all builders. Especially smaller builders.

    I know I digress. Thank you for allowing & listening.

    Follow your intuition but most importantly, make sure you are protected. For your own protection, have a Broker and it an attorney help initially to help protect you.

    Lastly, always have an inspection regardless of a warranty provided after closing. Normally they are only for one year & I’ve seen small builders not follow through.

    If they don’t .. contact The Atty. General and obtain a lawyer.

  • Lori Holland
    Posted March 13, 2020 10:20 pm 0Likes

    Excuse some typos.

  • Franklin White
    Posted March 19, 2020 2:47 pm 0Likes

    It’s good to know that builders give themselves some leeway by saying it will take 2 years to build your home. I really want to start having a house built for me and my family this summer. I want it done by next summer so hopefully the contractor that I hire won’t take the full 2 years.

  • Matthew Silva
    Posted May 12, 2020 4:29 am 0Likes

    Hi Joe,

    My wife and I are realtors and our client is purchasing a new build by Lennar. The construction was completed ahead of schedule. (In spite of the pandemic shut down)
    So, here’s what transpired the past 48 hours.

    -The sales rep (Over the last two weeks) has been pushing for an earlier closing date then whats on the contract. [completely understandable]
    -Today she says
    “Since your clients
    1.haven’t sold their current home;
    2.haven’t agreed to an earlier closing date;
    …I have sent them a “termination of contract” effective tomorrow.

    Here’s the catch.
    1. The contract is not on contingency. They can afford both notes.
    2. Today’s date is 5/12/2020. Texas just opened up from the Pandemic.
    3. Client just gave birth to new born 5/5/2020 7 days ago.
    4. The “walk though” (although not confirmed) was scheduled for 5/13/2020.

    So,
    1. The builder wants to terminate the contract “before” a “walk through”.
    2. Assumes the buyer is on a contingency.
    3. They have shown the home to another buyer that now wishes to buy it because (brace yourself) THEY are on a contingency; and, their home sold; and, the home they’re buying has just begun construction and won’t be ready for another four months.

    Their solution is to terminate our contract and sell us the one the other buyer is having built. No “30 day closing notice”, straight to contract termination. They’ve breached their own contract by not following the protocol set by them. Key Points- we weren’t supposed to know about the other buyers. And, -the termination notice was sent without our knowledge, AND, no explanation to the buyer of what the contract was she asked them to Docusign. Very deceptive.

    Shady. Deceptive. Unethical. Misleading. Ulterior motives. We spoke to the manager and he said the reason is (this ones even better) “they close out the end of May and the other buyers can close before the end of the month”. WOW.

  • Design and Build
    Posted May 17, 2020 10:11 am 0Likes

    Thank you for sharing your best tips for the new home builders like us, these are really practical suggestions you have made here. Thanks for sharing info. Keep up the good work; we would love to learn more from you in future.

  • Patrick Ross
    Posted June 8, 2020 7:46 am 0Likes

    It’s good to know that builders usually give themselves a year or two to complete a home. My sister wants to get a new home in the coming years. I’ll share this information with her so that she knows how long the process will take.

  • Joseph Martial
    Posted June 23, 2020 2:30 am 0Likes

    This information will be very beneficial to future home owners or people trying to buy homes.

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    Posted July 20, 2020 11:44 pm 0Likes

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  • Sara Bimbo
    Posted August 13, 2020 5:25 pm 0Likes

    Joe I had a new home built,had final walk thru but didn’t close.Son gave me money and we had to show statements.How long does it take now to close? Curious! Anxious! Nervous!

  • Chris
    Posted August 29, 2020 11:57 am 0Likes

    Great article. I like how you said that every client has their own design in their head. So a good builder should help make the design perfect for the client. Thanks for the tips.Good day!

  • concrete company
    Posted August 30, 2020 2:35 am 0Likes

    Thanks for sharing the article with us. Its a good website. I want to know, should i discuss about my budget with my contractor?

  • LAX Concrete
    Posted September 4, 2020 5:36 am 0Likes

    You are awsome. I think this tips are really great for new home builder contract. Everyone should follow them. Really appreciate your hard work man. Good job

  • Philip Fox
    Posted September 5, 2020 3:45 am 0Likes

    Thanks for the tips. I was thinking to hire a contractor for installing patio. Good article, WIll keep your advice in mind!

  • Commercial poxy
    Posted September 6, 2020 5:13 am 0Likes

    Really good article. I was searching for this kind of article for a long time. Really appreciate.

  • Sean Donleavy
    Posted September 6, 2020 10:27 am 0Likes

    Hi. I was just searching for an answer to my question/issue and came across your wonderful site.I am under contract to purchase a pre-construction home from a builder in a new development. It spells out all of my choices and upgrades. The builder/seller notified me recently that I must choose a different color and material on fireplace facing because the one I chose is ordered but the supplier will not have my choice until nearer the closing date. The options offered are not acceptable. They are in fact the opposite of what I wanted (think white to black). He did not say the material cannot be obtained. We are talking ornamentation here, not something structural that has to be completed before other work. Since the material will become available, immediately offered to extend the closing to allow the builder any time needed to obtain and install my choice. The contract requires him to fix any “punch list” items 10 days prior to closing and allows him the right to extend the closing up to 90 days if he needs that time. He is insisting that I make a different choice now. I want to go forward and I don’t want a fight or a lawsuit/arbitration. Any advice on how to resolve this? The item is not a minor item. Thank you!

  • rachel frampton
    Posted September 8, 2020 12:22 am 0Likes

    My uncle is planning to have his house constructed, which is why he’s thinking of working with a utility oversight service that will be able to help him comply with the safety standards. I agree with you that my uncle must read the fine print of the contract before engaging with the deal. You’re right about the importance of being hands-on whilst the property is under construction, so it will be easier to determine any issues.

  • CLIC AQUÍ
    Posted September 11, 2020 10:37 am 0Likes

    En la actualidad y por las diferentes situaciones que se viven en el mundo, resulta más rentable invertir en bienes tangibles que ahorrar el dinero en una entidad financiera, ahora que ya estás un poco en contexto, queremos comentarte las 5 razones que necesitas saber para comprar una casa como patrimonio.

  • William Clark
    Posted September 21, 2020 2:41 am 0Likes

    Thanks for the great article. Learned alot of new things from this article.

  • Chris Pederson
    Posted September 21, 2020 2:52 pm 0Likes

    Thanks for explaining that builders give themselves about 1 – 2 years to build a home. My wife and I want our dream home and we can only do that if we have it built. We’ll look for some builders that can match our time frame and have it built within a year and a half.

  • Donna
    Posted September 26, 2020 10:09 am 0Likes

    If you are thinking about, or under contract to build new construction in TX, BUYER BEWARE. There are ZERO laws in place to protect the buyer thanks to Rick Perry.

    I spent 2 years designing and building my dream home. Spent extra money to engineer the foundation, BUT IT STILL FAILED. 3 weeks after I moved in the house literally started splitting in two. Also, company that applied the stucco did not apply it per specifications and it too failed. 3.5 years of a lawsuit and tremendous stress. READ THE CONTRACT, HIRE A REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY, PROTECT YOURSELF NO MATTER WHAT THE STATE YOU ARE IN. I would NEVER want anyone to go through what I went through.

  • JAX Concrete
    Posted October 1, 2020 2:45 am 0Likes

    wow. Amazing informations. I really didnt knew about those facts. Thanks a lot for sharing!

  • Chris Purvis
    Posted October 5, 2020 12:01 pm 0Likes

    Thanks for sharing this informations. I really liked your article.Good work

  • Greg Ward
    Posted October 8, 2020 3:05 am 0Likes

    Really good tips. Thanks a lot for sharing!

  • Lynn A
    Posted October 9, 2020 10:34 am 0Likes

    Thank you for the great tips.m How should it be handled when the seller of a new build does not yet totally own the actual lot the home is being built on?

  • Chris Pederson
    Posted October 13, 2020 2:34 pm 0Likes

    Thanks for making it clear that builder contracts are not contingent. I’ll be sure to pick a fair price with them in the beginning. One that I will feel comfortable with no matter what happens later on once it is finished.

  • Homebuild Mortgage
    Posted October 29, 2020 11:41 am 0Likes

    Nice information! Thanks for this article

  • Anonymous
    Posted November 7, 2020 4:49 pm 0Likes

    Hello, question: I’m a realtor. We just signed a contract on a condo less than a week ago with a big builder. The unit is due for completion in 3-4 weeks, but upon a visit today, during final phase of construction, we noticed their work is unacceptable. Drywall doesn’t meet sliding glass door and filled with cocking material. Bowed baseboard with half in space between the wall, bathroom shower tiles bowing by half an inch, all to “fixed” presumably with cocking material, and the one I absolutely can’t handle is the carpet install, cheap low end carpet “builder selected everything” not attached around the rooms nor the entry way seam, I could actually pull it up with my hand, using little to no resistance, the whole room came up. I don’t think this is about “repairing” this is who they are, this is how they build! Do I submit a notice to terminate? Do I mention it to the sales rep? I can’t buy this condo any longer, it will be falling apart in weeks.

  • Digger Hire
    Posted November 27, 2020 3:17 am 0Likes

    Thank you very much for presenting this data about seven things to know about new home builder contracts, it’s known how to get approved. Wonderful information, thanks a lot for sharing kind of content with us… great post!I have also found this resource Earthmovingandcivil.co.nz useful and its related to what you are mentioning.

  • Valiant
    Posted January 24, 2021 11:12 am 0Likes

    Dumb answer.
    Of course you can back out. Nobody can make you buy a house.

  • Basement Construction
    Posted February 13, 2021 4:20 am 0Likes

    What a pleasure worth reading this article as it provided me lots of information on the 7 things to know about the new home builder contracts in detail. Here you will get to know in detail about the topic which is in demand. I enjoyed a lot while reading this article and would recommend other too.

  • Maggie
    Posted February 16, 2021 7:17 pm 0Likes

    Hello!
    Thanks for writing this article.
    So we went in escrow in mid-December (peak of Covid) for a new construction house in a new community; our future house is in the last phase of houses build in the complex.
    Sale associate told us the house will be ready to move in August-October (8-10months). Per contract it’s within 1 year, meaning the latest mid December.
    When we entered the escrow our lot has only foundation. They still didn’t start framing.
    We drove by several times and saw that they are actually building other houses in the complex, which were NOTA RELEASED until today, hence not in escrow.
    When we asked, the sale associate and the contractor tell us they have a shortage of carpenters to start framing the 5 houses in escrow (incl. ours)!
    Yet, instead we are seeing they are building OTHER houses not in escrow or even not released to public.
    They told us they HAVD NO IDEA when they will start framing our house and when the house will be ready. A sudden change from 2 months ago when we signed the contract.
    Also, the contract clearly states the house has to be delivered within 1 year unless there are some acts of God, which they cannot control.
    It seems to me they are intentionally delaying the construction of our house and putting us on financial damage. Our lease expires in August.
    What can we legally do??
    We already communicated to them we are NOT leaving the escrow as it’s the house we want to buy – this year as the written agreement (contract) states.
    Any help would be appreciated!!
    Maggie

  • Dayakar Devi
    Posted March 23, 2021 6:13 pm 0Likes

    Hello, I have made a bid and won it for which I had to pay the extra amount I bid as earnest money but I found a better offer for the same builder in a different community. Is it possible to get back earnest money I paid for the first home and accept the second home?

    Thank you,
    Dayakar Devi

  • Home Builders
    Posted March 23, 2021 9:56 pm 0Likes

    This is really informative and I really appreciate you guys for sharing. I have a business partner who takes care of the home building and remodeling while I market our business and I will need to show him this article as soon as possible. Thanks for sharing!

  • gurkiran gill
    Posted April 15, 2021 1:38 pm 0Likes

    We are building a home and the contract states estimated close date from the time the permit was issues 280 days (8 months) we are now going on 11 months and still no close date that they have finalized. And we are paying extra money every month since we are now in a airbnb since we had made lease arrangmenents for 10 months. Can we do anyting legally for them to at least help with this extra costs we have to pay since they didnt hold their end of the contract?

  • Anmol Negi
    Posted May 6, 2021 6:45 pm 0Likes

    I signed a lot hold agreement on March 24, 2021 and agreement says builder has to close the contract signing is next 10 days.
    It is more than a month now and builder has been delaying to sign the contract with not replying to the mails. Now today as of May 6, 2021 he asked that price has increased by 30K due to lumber price. Can I sue builder just because of a clause which said they had to sign the contract within 10 days and now asking for more money. My assumption is it would not be easy for them to ask for price rise if they would have signed the agreement with me.

    Please help!

  • Concrete patio
    Posted May 12, 2021 10:51 pm 0Likes

    These are awesome tips! Thank you for sharing them with us.

  • D Newton
    Posted May 24, 2021 5:34 pm 0Likes

    We signed a contract for a new construction home 6 moths ago and because of lumber cost he has stopped building waiting on lumber prices to go down. Our closing date was June 8th. What can I do ?

  • Anonymous
    Posted September 19, 2021 10:12 am 0Likes

    Any chance your builder is Pulte homes in Arizona? Your situation sounds exactly like my situation.

  • Friendly Neighborhood Cyber Guy
    Posted November 4, 2021 10:15 am 0Likes

    A loan company with a gmail address and no phone number? Let me guess…these loans have up front fees?….

    Please delete this scammer…

  • Sheri D Coleman
    Posted November 6, 2021 3:01 am 0Likes

    Hello!

    Should a veteran be held accountable due to a new construction appraisal date would not allow the second CD within the allotted time limit? Since this is no fault of the veteran, the builder stated he ‘veteran’, would be liable for a $250 fine each day afterwards. Looking for a solution.

    Perplexed

  • YBnony
    Posted December 15, 2021 1:15 pm 0Likes

    I have a question. Our house is about to be built,but kitchen counter top and exterior material were different than we thought. We were not told the house picture on the list had upgrades nor explained at selections. (they just let me pick the color of material but never be told about upgrades). We had selection over video chat as we werevin overseas.

    Do we have a right to complain and ask for solutions or is it our fault?’

  • dat
    Posted December 18, 2021 11:04 pm 0Likes

    We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. I was exactly searching for. Thanks for such post and please keep it up. Great work.

  • Joanne Pace
    Posted January 11, 2022 10:54 pm 0Likes

    Very impressive, thanks a lot for sharing a helpful post with us.

  • SJ
    Posted February 18, 2022 12:30 pm 0Likes

    OMG, can you please give me an update on this? I’m suspecting this is happening with our home build, and I am worried. Please let me know. Thanks!

  • Nancy Adams
    Posted April 20, 2022 8:25 pm 0Likes

    I cannot thank you enough for the blog.Much thanks again. Awesome.

  • Iram Perez
    Posted May 12, 2022 5:01 pm 0Likes

    After the contract is signed on a new constructions house and we have been given a closing date for the house to completed but the closing date has been change already 3 times, can we still cancel the contract with no repercussions? Could we still get our deposit and earnest money back?

  • Rebecca Johnson
    Posted June 17, 2022 9:39 am 0Likes

    I signed contract with builder last Saturday and put down $1,500 on Monday my husband changed his mind for a few reasons the driveway was cracked and part of roof looked damaged. We let the seller know know but she really didn’t address it.
    I’m wondering if we are allowed to get our $1,500 down payment back?

  • Jary
    Posted July 22, 2022 10:53 am 0Likes

    If we’ve already contracted with a builder and paid a required fee; earnest money, option fees etc,

    Now 12 months later, our new built home still is not finished for move in.

    We have saved up extract money since we contracted. Are we able to pay cash for our home when it completed, since we’ve signed a contract with the builder and there preferred lender?

  • Terria
    Posted September 21, 2022 8:00 am 0Likes

    I am thinking about purchasing a new construction, but will have to sell current home in order to purchase. New construction is due to begin in November, how long do I have to sell current home?
    Being told new construction wouldn’t be complete until July on next year. I prefer to stay in current home as long as I can near completion of new construction.

  • ASH
    Posted September 25, 2022 5:58 pm 0Likes

    my financials have changed in the last 10 months interest rate went up! now we can’t afford paying this much for our new build! we have signed a contract paid the earnest deposit. our monthly payment increased a total of 1000 from 2600 to 3600 they still tell us we qualify although we will be left with 800 dollars to live with, and we are a family of 4 I DONT SEE HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE! can I back out of contract without losing the earnest deposit can we change our mind and not buy the house? PLEASE LET ME KNOW THANK YOU. AND CAN THEY FORCE US OR SUE IF WE CHANGE OUR MIND

  • Ms. My
    Posted January 19, 2023 7:36 am 0Likes

    Nice Article! Everyone’s desire is to build their own home. Normally, the largest of the funds are spent on this fantasy event.  Contracting is the flexibility that existing staff don’t have. Independent contractors have the freedom to work where, when, and how they choose.  https://www.epoxysanantonio.com

  • Diggs Custom Homes
    Posted March 30, 2023 12:00 am 0Likes

    This is really informative and I appreciate for sharing. Everyone desires to build their own home. And yes it is very important that we need to check whether the contractor is licensed or not. Thanks for sharing this inoformative post.

  • Brendan Rojas
    Posted May 17, 2023 9:58 am 0Likes

    This was a great read! Thank you for sharing.

  • Annaibharathhousing
    Posted June 22, 2023 4:23 am 0Likes

    Great blog post on new home builder contracts! It’s crucial for first-time home buyers to be well-informed about the terms and conditions when working with a home builder. At Annai Bharath Housing, we value transparency and customer satisfaction. Our team ensures that our contracts are fair and clearly outline the expectations from both parties. We believe in building trust and maintaining open lines of communication throughout the construction process. If you’re considering building a new home in Madurai, we would be delighted to be your trusted partner in creating your dream space.

  • A
    Posted August 10, 2023 10:40 am 0Likes

    So my builder did my upgrades improperly. I have given them several notices to repair and they did not. They have chosen to give me a credit for the cost I’ll have to fix these upgrades. The catch is they are requiring me to use their in-house lender.

    I’m not comfortable using their lender because I have an open investigation with hud because of loan discrimination.

    Am I somehow able to demand these repairs be credited with any lender? How is it ethical for them to credit their mistakes only if I use their lender?

  • Clarence
    Posted August 14, 2023 10:46 am 0Likes

    Hello there…just had a house Built by Richamond American Homes in Pueblo…We have been there onlyh 3 months and we are already starting to see cracking and sinking in the driveway, pooling and flooding in our sprinkler system (only set for every other day for 15 mins), foundation not cracking but breaking off in places. This is located in brand new development in Pueblo (North Vista Highlands). Our neighbors are having the same type issues and more. What recourse do we have to get these issues resolved. The fact that its happening on every house on the street is disturbing to me. Also we have had to have the deadbolt that locks the garage door adjusted, as it seems the ground has sunk a bit. The garage door guy said he had to move the deadbolt 2 inches to get the garage door deadbolt to engage.

    Anyone else have Richmond American Homes bulit in Colorado and have issues so early into the ownership of their NEW homes?

    Thanks,
    Clarence

  • Stephanie
    Posted September 21, 2023 3:18 am 0Likes

    Same story here- but our builder wouldn’t give up on us and they bjught our interest down 2:1 30k

  • Home Renovations
    Posted September 26, 2023 12:21 am 0Likes

    Homebuyers often enter into builder contracts without fully understanding the terms and implications. This blog post provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect when dealing with new home builder contracts. The insights shared here are essential for anyone considering purchasing a new construction home. Understanding the fine print and potential pitfalls can save buyers from future headaches. Kudos to the author for offering this valuable guidance to prospective homeowners.

  • Jayabharath Homes
    Posted October 10, 2023 7:00 am 0Likes

    The blog discusses seven important points to consider when entering into a new home builder contract, highlighting the differences compared to resale transactions. It emphasizes the need for buyers to be aware of factors such as earnest money, loan contingencies, appraisal issues, building timelines, inspections, flexibility in changes, and interest rate locks. Buyers are encouraged to conduct further research, including reading customer reviews and consulting with real estate professionals, to make an informed decision. For Further details Jayabharath homes being the best experienced builders in madurai can clarify any doubt on real estatr

  • rene
    Posted December 14, 2023 10:34 am 0Likes

    who is responsible to pay for unfroseen costs?
    the plans are incorrect and will loose square footage of the original room size. The builder is telling us we need to pay the differnce to make the room its original size.

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