Building Forward

Category: Pennsylvania

First Time Buyer? Consider a New Construction Home

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It’s also likely to be one of your most expensive purchases, so it’s important that you do your research and consider all of your options. One of those options is whether to purchase a newly constructed home or a resale home.

Here are some reasons why first-time homebuyers should strongly consider buying new construction when they are in the market for their first home.

Low maintenance

When you purchase a new construction home, you don’t have to worry about dealing with repairs right away. Many older homes require some sort of repair or update before they can be considered livable. This can be time-consuming and costly. With a new construction home, however, you get all the latest upgrades and technology fully functional and ready to move into right away! This means less immediate maintenance and more time to enjoy your new place sooner.

Energy efficiency

Many new construction homes come with energy-efficient appliances like smart thermostats that help reduce your monthly utility bills. Not only do these features help save money on bills, but they can also improve your quality of life by providing better air circulation, noise reduction, and other comfort benefits. Additionally, new construction homes are built with the latest in efficient technology, building materials, and standards so your home is more efficient from the ground up.

Janice Glessner, the Online Sales and Marketing Manager at S&A Homes recommends homebuyers ask potential builders for “proof of the home’s energy-efficiency through a Home Energy Rating Score. “This can translate to hundreds of dollars, even thousands, saved every year depending on where and how you live.” (Realtor.com)

Customization possibilities

Buyers gain from being able to customize their home according to their personal taste with a range of color options and finishes available giving them the ability to create a unique look that fits their lifestyle perfectly! Whether it’s painting walls or changing fixtures or countertops, buyers have full control over how they want their space to look and feel when it’s complete – something that cannot be achieved with existing homes.

Warranty coverage

A major benefit of purchasing a newly constructed home is that it comes with a warranty coverage plan from the builder. This ensures any potential issues or defects within the home are taken care of quickly without making homeowners incur additional costs down the line. At S&A, we provide a 10-year warranty that’s fully transferable for our homebuyers’ convenience and peace of mind. Our dedicated Customer Care Department is on hand to simplify the claims process.

New construction homes by S&A Homes

Ultimately, the decision to buy a new construction home depends on your priorities and timeline. S&A Homes has a long history of building quality new construction homes throughout central and south-central Pennsylvania. Our new home communities are located in desirable neighborhoods.

We offer several new construction options for first-time buyers. Buyers with a longer timeline can build a new home from the ground up with us. Our experienced team will walk you through every step of the building process. Choose from building in one of our many new home communities or on your own land.

Want a new construction home without the wait of building from scratch? Check out our quick move-in homes as well as our Streamline Series of plans. Our Streamline collection of plans come with the same construction quality that S&A Homes is known for with a faster build time.

We hope you’ll consider S&A Homes when you’re ready to make the move into a new construction home. We invite you to learn more about new home opportunities from S&A Homes throughout Central and South-Central Pennsylvania. Call 1-855-SAHOME1 or visit www.SAHomeBuilder.com to learn more about our new home communities, floorplans, and more.

February 17, 2023
Key Qualities to Look for in a New Home Builder

When it comes to building a new home in Central Pennsylvania, selecting the right homebuilder is one of the most important decisions you will make. It’s essential to carefully research and evaluate each builder you are considering to ensure you are making an informed decision. We uncover the key qualities you should look for when choosing a new home builder in central Pennsylvania.

1.    A solid reputation

A good reputation is one of the most important qualities of any homebuilder. You can start by doing some online research and check customer feedback and ratings to gauge reliability and trustworthiness. Most importantly, talk to other homeowners who have purchased homes from that builder as they have direct experience with the builder’s process and results. You may also want to ask your real estate agent for referrals or their experience with local builders.

2.    Building experience

Experience matters when it comes to building homes. You want to make sure you choose a home builder who is capable of completing the job in a timely and efficient manner. When interviewing builders, ask about their past projects, particularly those similar to your project to make sure they have an established track record for success.

3.    Uses quality materials

It is important to make sure that your builder uses quality materials in their work. Ask about the grade of materials that will be used, whether there are any extra costs associated with upgrades, and whether you will pay more for better materials upfront or during construction. It may also be helpful to request samples so that you can inspect them up close.

4.    Attention To Detail

Investigate how well builders pay attention to design elements such as trim and fixtures. Consider reviewing online portfolios or examples of previous projects for a better understanding of their capabilities in this area; this could help determine whether or not their style matches yours.

5.    Flexibility and adaptability

Life inevitably throws curve balls at us every once in a while. If your prospective builder cannot handle change then they may not be right for your project. It may be helpful to check if they have processes in place that allow them to easily adjust plans according to changing requirements or unexpected challenges such as bad weather conditions or supply delays. so your project runs smoothly throughout its duration.

6.    Clear communication

Last but certainly not least, communication is key! Discuss clear communication policies so expectations are established from both parties involved in the project; this will help avoid miscommunication down the line during the construction process itself or after it’s complete when dealing with ongoing maintenance or repairs issues that may arise over time. Establish response times for questions or concerns that arise during or after construction is complete. Ultimately you want a new home builder who will provide timely responses and feedback throughout your entire build.

By keeping these essential qualities in mind, you can rest assured knowing you have selected an experienced and reliable home builder who can meet both your needs and budget – resulting in a dream house you’ll love.

At S&A Homes, we believe building a home shouldn’t be a hassle. Here’s an overview of what you can expect during the new home process with us.

Finding the right new home builder to partner with on your new home is important. We hope you’ll consider building your new home with S&A Homes. To learn more about our amazing new home opportunities where we build in Central and South-Central Pennsylvania, including build on your lot, call 1-855-SAHOME1 or visit www.SAHomeBuilder.com.

January 24, 2023
How Much Money Do You Need to Buy a New Home in Central Pennsylvania?

Purchasing a home is an exciting journey, but it’s important to have a financial plan in place before you start house hunting. If you’re looking to buy a new construction home in Central Pennsylvania, there are certain costs to consider that can affect your budget. Here’s an overview of the associated costs of buying a new home in Central Pennsylvania.

Home Prices in Central Pennsylvania

The median price for a home in Pennsylvania is $263,500 according to Redfin (as of November 2022). This amount will vary depending on where you live and what type of property you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for a luxury single-family detached home with all the bells and whistles then expect to pay more than the average price. On the other hand, if you want something smaller like a condo or townhouse then it may be possible to get into these types of properties for less.

Regardless of what type of property you choose, it’s essential to understand the costs associated with homeownership – which goes beyond just the purchase price of the property, in order to determine how much you need.

1. Down Payment

This refers to a portion of the total cost of the home that is paid upfront when making an offer on it. The minimum down payment amount required by lenders varies depending on the type of loan program and additional criteria such as credit score. Most people will need to have at least 3.5-10% saved up for a down payment on their new home. For a median priced home, this would be between $9,222 and $26,350.

Additionally, you should also factor in other expenses such as closing costs (more on that in a moment), property tax payments, homeowner’s insurance, furnishings, and any unexpected repairs that may arise after purchasing the property.

2. Closing Costs

In addition to the down payment, there are also closing costs associated with purchasing a home that typically ranges between 2 – 5% of the purchase price. These include fees for title insurance, inspections, appraisals, attorneys, and more that help cover administrative fees before closing on the house. Again, for a median price home, the estimated range would be $5,270- $13,175.

3. Remodeling and Repairs

Unless you’ve purchased a new construction home, you may want to do some remodeling or repairs to make it yours. Depending on what type of projects you have planned out (e.g., kitchen renovations or bathroom updates) budgeting anywhere from $5,000 – $100,000+ could be necessary here as well. You don’t need to complete all of the projects at the same time. You can spread them out over time.

While the choice between new construction and resale comes down to personal preference, here are some benefits of purchasing a new construction home.

4. Moving Costs

If you’re relocating cities or states to purchase your new Central Pennsylvania property don’t forget to budget for moving expenses. Factors such as when you move, distance traveled, and the number of trucks or pods needed will impact how much this will ultimately cost so be sure to factor these into your budget too.

The journey towards buying a new construction home in Pennsylvania comes with many financial considerations and responsibilities. Researching market conditions ahead of time will prove invaluable when calculating just how much money one needs upfront for both down payments and closing costs while also keeping track of ongoing expenses during homeownership such as taxes and insurance premiums will ensure there aren’t any surprises along the way.

Finding Your Dream Home in Central Pennsylvania

S&A Homes is proud to build affordable new home communities throughout Central and South-Central Pennsylvania. We can also build on buyer-owned land through our Build on Your Own Land program. To learn more about our available inventory and communities, call S&A Homes at 855-921-3626 or contact us now. We’re happy to help!

January 10, 2023
Build On Your Lot Program Throughout Central Pennsylvania

Local home builder S&A Homes understands there aren’t many decisions that are more important than the investment you make in your new home, which is exactly why we offer our thoughtfully designed floor plans to build on your own land! Build your dream home at your dream location with the S&A Homes Build on Your Land program. (more…)

January 18, 2019
Home Organization Tips for a New School Year

Back-to-school season can be just as chaotic as it is relieving (for the parents at least!). After a long summer break without much structure, getting back into a daily routine can bring some much-welcomed order back to your home.

When you think about getting organized for school, there’s more to organize than just your kids’ rooms. Thinking about the rush you feel from the moment the alarm goes off until you’re finally able to push the kids out the door, you’ll understand why organizing the whole house is important. Here’s how to organize some key rooms in your home for this new season and start the school year on the right foot!

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August 14, 2018