Topics: Living in Southern Indiana & Louisville, New Construction Home Buying
Are you searching for a new home in Southern Indiana or the Louisville, Kentucky area? One of your first decisions may be whether to buy an existing property or choose new construction.
Your choice depends on your priorities for you and your family. An existing home may appeal to buyers who want a property in a particular established neighborhood, appreciate the character of an older home, or find a house that already checks most of their boxes.
However, an older house often comes with compromises, from dated kitchens and bathrooms to aging roofs, HVAC equipment, windows, and other systems. You may also find yourself paying to remodel a home that was designed around someone else’s lifestyle.
On the other hand, when you partner with a local builder who can design and plan a new construction around your lifestyle, it gives you the chance to start fresh: a modern home, contemporary floor plan, new systems and materials, warranty protection, and opportunities to select a home and community that better fit the way you want to live.
So, which approach makes sense for you? Here are some important differences to consider.
Existing Homes Can Offer Convenience and Character
One benefit of an existing home is that you can see exactly what you are buying. You can walk through the rooms, explore the neighborhood, see the existing landscaping, and evaluate how well the property fits your needs.
If the home has been well maintained and its layout already fits your lifestyle, it can be an attractive option. However, the “character” of an older home often involves renovations that can increase your new home budget and delay move-in.
That is why the National Association of Realtors recommends getting a home inspection before buying an existing home, which can identify potential concerns, such as problems with the roof, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and cooling equipment, insulation, structure, and other components.
In addition to issues uncovered during the inspection, you may need to factor additional home renovations into your new home budget.
Does the kitchen have enough storage and workspace? Is there an open connection between the kitchen and living areas? Are there enough bathrooms? Does the primary suite offer the features you want? Will you need new flooring, cabinetry, appliances, lighting, or other updates?
An existing home’s purchase price is only part of the cost equation if significant renovations are on your wish list.
New Construction Lets You Start Fresh in Southern Indiana
With a brand-new home, you are not inheriting the previous owner’s design decisions or years of wear on major systems such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. With a new construction, you have the chance to work with a builder to create the home of your dreams in Southern Indiana.
Maybe your dream home includes open living spaces, generous kitchen islands, walk-in closets, practical storage, comfortable primary suites, dedicated laundry areas, and a “flex room” that can serve multiple purposes (gym, study, or home office, etc.).
Need a little design inspiration for your new home vision? Premier Homes offers a wide variety of floor plans with different numbers of bedrooms, bathrooms, layouts, and square footage options. For example, the Willow includes an open-concept great room, kitchen and dining area, kitchen island, pantry, designated laundry room, covered outdoor living space, and a primary suite with a walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom.
When you partner with Premier Homes, our team works with you from the ground up to select the right floor plan for your lifestyle. We also help you find the perfect lot for your floor plan in some of the most-coveted Southern Indiana new home communities. And our design team can walk you through your new home design selections, including finishes and upgrade options.
Consider Maintenance Along With Your Home Purchase Price
When comparing an older existing home with a new construction, look beyond the initial sales price. For example, a less expensive older property may still require renovations soon after move-in, such as a new roof, heating and cooling equipment, plumbing, appliances, flooring, windows, or cosmetic updates. How much depends entirely on the property’s age and condition.
On the other hand, working with a home builder in Southern Indiana means moving into a new home with new materials, appliances, and major systems. That does not mean a new home will never require maintenance, but it can reduce some of the uncertainty that comes with purchasing an older property.
Warranty protection can help you get more value from your new home investment. All new Premier Homes include an RWC Home Warranty. We also offer post-closing walkthroughs at approximately 30 days and again at approximately 11 months, if needed. This gives you the opportunity to address any concerns after settling in.
New Construction Creates Opportunities for Better Energy Performance
One of the biggest advantages of a new construction, compared to an existing home in Southern Indiana, is the opportunity to incorporate smarter energy-efficient materials and systems from the beginning (rather than upgrading them later).
According to ENERGY STAR®, certified new homes offer more wall-to-wall comfort, lasting quality, and lower energy use than typical code-built homes. Plus, you get tangible energy savings with the added comfort.
Those savings can add up year after year when you partner with a new home builder like Premier Homes, who designs each new construction with energy-efficiency features such as low-E windows, tight envelopes, efficient HVAC/heat pumps, and high-efficiency appliances.
Think About Timing: New Construction Does Not Always Mean Starting From Scratch
One common misconception among new home buyers is that buying an existing home always means a faster path to move-in. In some cases, you can move in faster with an existing property, especially if you are willing to wait to renovate later.
However, depending on which home builder you choose, your move-in day may come sooner than you think for your Southern Indiana dream home. For example, when you partner with Premier Homes, you have more options that impact timing.
Here’s how each choice works for a new Premier Home:
- A ground-up home begins with a Builder Consultation, then your new home is designed and built based on your selected floor plan and lot in your new home community. After an accepted Purchase Agreement, you can make an appointment with our Design Center, where our talented Designer will help you select all your new home’s finishes and upgrades, and will go over your plans and specifications.
- You can also choose a spec home, which usually creates a faster path to move-in. A Premier spec home is a new home already under construction, based on an existing Premier Homes lot and floor plan selection. With some of our partially completed spec homes, you can still make finish selections that have not yet been ordered.
- Additionally, Premier has completed, brand-new homes and under-construction homes available throughout new home communities in Southern Indiana.
This means if you want the advantages of a brand-new home but do not want to start at the earliest stage of construction, a recently completed or in-progress spec home can be an attractive option.
We advise our ground-up buyers to build some flexibility into their schedule. Weather, material availability, and trade schedules can affect construction, which can impact closing dates and move-in schedules.
Location: Your Community Matters as Much as Your New Home
Choosing between a new home construction and an older property is not just about the house itself. Location matters! This is why Premier Homes builds throughout Southern Indiana, giving you more new-home options across Jeffersonville, New Albany, Georgetown, Sellersburg, and Charlestown.
For example, Ellingsworth Commons and Hilton Farms in Jeffersonville offer convenient access to I-265 and the East End/Lewis & Clark Bridge area. Knob Hill in Georgetown provides access to I-64 and ample green space, while Waters of Millan/Plains of Millan in Sellersburg is minutes from I-65. Kamer Crossing places homeowners in New Albany near shopping, dining, and entertainment, and Rock Springs offers a Charlestown location convenient to the River Ridge area.
With so many of our new home communities near city amenities like dining, shopping, and recreation, you do not have to sacrifice convenience to build your dream home in a peaceful, scenic location. You can review Premier Homes’ new home floor plans and explore our communities to find the right combination that best fits your commute, lifestyle, and priorities.
Is a New Construction Home in Southern Indiana Right for You?
After 40 years building new homes, Premier Homes has learned that there is no right or wrong answer to the question, “Buy an older existing house, or build a new construction?”
If you find an older home in the right location, love its character and layout, and are comfortable with its condition and potential maintenance needs, it may be the right choice for you.
But if you value a modern floor plan, new materials and systems, warranty protection, opportunities to personalize your home, and the experience of moving into one of Southern Indiana’s newer residential communities, new construction deserves a closer look.
Ready to see the difference for yourself? Explore our new home communities and available homes, or contact us to visit one of our open houses to start finding the right new home in Southern Indiana for you.