Building Forward

Tag: new Pennsylvania homes

  • First Time Buyer? Consider a New Construction Home

    First Time Buyer? Consider a New Construction Home

    image of rosewood exterior homePurchasing 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)

    Kitchen with quartz countertops, pendant lighting and center island

    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.

  • How Much Money Do You Need to Buy a New Home in Central Pennsylvania?

    How Much Money Do You Need to Buy a New Home in Central Pennsylvania?

    How Much Does it Cost to Buy a New Home in Central PennsylvaniaPurchasing 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.

    Deerfield. Single Family Homes in Shippensburg, PA

    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.

    How Much Money Do You Need to Buy a New Home in Central Pennsylvania?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!

  • Build in a Community or On Your Own Land?

    Build in a Community or On Your Own Land?You know the area you want to live and you have opted to build your new home rather than buy a resale, but which is better, to build a home in an established community or build on your own land? There are pros and cons to either option, so it is important to consider all factors to determine which is best for you and your family. (more…)

  • S&A Homes Celebrates National Pennsylvania Day

    S&A Homes Celebrates National Pennsylvania DayPennsylvania is home to several of our beautiful communities and S&A Homes wants to join in the celebration of National Pennsylvania Day on July 20. In 2017, the nation began to celebrate each state starting the week of Independence Day, and S&A Homes is excited to embrace this new tradition in celebrating our beautiful country. (more…)

  • Fourth of July Activities Near S&A Homes Communities

    Fourth of July Activities Near S&A Homes CommunitiesIt will be easy to let freedom ring this holiday with the number of Fourth of July activities near S&A Homes communities throughout Central Pennsylvania. Check out some of our favorites: (more…)

  • 4 Kitchen Trends Holding True in 2019

    4 Kitchen Trends Holding True in 2019At the beginning of the New Year, designers share the trends they expect to see throughout the year. One of the most frequently used spaces and considered the heart of the home, is the kitchen. Check out the top four kitchen trends holding true in 2019 so far: (more…)

  • It’s Easy to Build on Your Land with S&A Homes

    It’s Easy to Build on Your Land with S&A HomesYou’ve done it – you’ve found the perfect homesite! But who can deliver your dream home to your dream location? Did you know that in addition to building quality new homes in some of the most sought-after locations throughout Central and South-Central Pennsylvania, S&A Homes also builds custom new homes on your own land? In fact, a quarter of our business is dedicated to these types of projects. (more…)

  • Featured Floor Plan: Richfield at Harvest Glen

    Featured Floor Plan: Richfield at Harvest GlenThe new Richfield carriage home design offers a maintenance-free, energy-efficient lifestyle with 1,450 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space and three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage. (more…)

  • First-Time Homebuyer Tips from S&A Homes

    First-Time Homebuyer Tips from S&A HomesThere aren’t many decisions that are more important than the investment you make in your new home. S&A Homes recognizes this, and it is one of the reasons we are always ahead of the curve, building forward.

    We understand the process of buying a new home, especially a first home, can be overwhelming – check out our top first-time homebuyer tips to help ease the process! Be prepared – there are several things to save up for! (more…)

  • S&A Introduces New Streamline Series Floor Plans

    S&A Introduces New Streamline Series Floor PlansIn an effort to continue building forward with today’s homebuyers, S&A Homes is excited to announce that five brand new floor plans have just been added to the S&A Homes Streamline Series collection of homes!  Three new single-family home designs including a two-story plan with first-floor owner’s suite, a single-level ranch plan and a four-bedroom design that includes three-and-a-half baths. Two new townhome designs are also available. Designed specifically to maximize usability and efficiency, the Streamline Series features highly-functional, modern layouts with open, flexible spaces. (more…)