Purchasing new construction

Partnering with a savvy agent is key when shopping for new construction, and is here to help you navigate through your options in the Oakland area.

Buyers of new construction in a development aren't happy when the homes that sell after theirs fetch a lesser price. Knowing this, the builder or developer often won't bend on price. (You'll appreciate this behavior after you've bought a home in a development of new construction!) Regardless, depending on the market and the status of the project, there's sometimes room for negotiation.

Say a home has been on the market a long time and the builder has a lot sunk into it, then you have some room. The same goes for show or model homes that have been sitting for a while. However, if a home was recently completed, don't count on being able to get a deal.

In cases where a builder won't budge, try getting a break with other aspects of the transaction. Ask for them to pay a share of the closing costs, or more amenities, like an allowance for window treatments, a garage door opener, a fence or landscaping, or an extended home warranty. Or take the contrary route. If a home is nearing completion, you can often save money by passing on suggested upgrades from the builder and installing things yourself.

While you should always negotiate a home warranty so problems can be fixed, get a home inspection before your purchase regardless. Inevitable problems can be repaired (by the builder) before you move in and larger issues identified before it's too late. Since an inspection is relatively inexpensive, some new home buyers get an inspection after being in the home for 10 or 11 months - that way, the builder can make the repairs before a 1 year warranty expires.