New construction vs resale homes in santac cruz california

The homebuying process can be difficult.

When looking for a home, there are so many things to consider, such as location, homestyle, and budget. And another important aspect to consider is whether you want to buy resale or new construction.

Santa Cruz real estate has a generous mix of both resale and new construction homes, giving homebuyers plenty of choice.

But what’s the difference between one and the other? Which is better?

Believe it or not, there are crucial differences between the two home styles—all of which could make you rethink what’s best for you.

Here are the differences between buying a resale vs. new construction home in Santa Cruz, CA:

Energy Efficiency and Green Building

Energy efficiency is becoming a high priority for many homebuyers on the Santa Cruz market.

But when you’re on the lookout for resale homes, it can sometimes be difficult to find ones that have the latest green technology.

Depending on the age of the home, it could have out-of-date features and appliances that do not comply with modern energy-efficiency ratings.

And if the home isn’t equipped with energy efficient systems, you could end up paying more money for your energy bill.

But buying a resale home doesn’t mean you can’t modify the place to be more green. You can change out minor things, like light bulbs and showerheads, to be more green.

New construction homes, on the other hand, are almost always built with green living in mind. They have the newest energy efficient systems preloaded into them, so you know for a fact that you’re saving energy and money.

Fixes and Repairs

When buying a resale home, you have to consider the potential for fixes and repairs.

Depending on the age of the home, you might be in for some hefty expenses right off the bat.

When buying these types of homes, you need to consider big ticket items like roofs. A typical roof only lasts for 25 years, and can cost you over $5,000 to replace.

Other repairs you need to watch out for include failures in the heating and air conditioning systems. Central air only lasts for around 15 years here in Santa Cruz.

The lack of expenses on fixes and repairs is one of the benefits of buying a new construction home in Santa Cruz. Everything in these homes is brand new, so you don’t have to worry about big ticket repairs for years to come.

And if anything does breakdown or malfunctions, new builds are typically under warranty for several years, so you’re fully covered.

Charm and Character

Charm and character is one of the top reasons why homebuyers choose to invest in a resale home.

Depending on the age of the home, you can find places that still boast its original features, like hardwood flooring and intricate ceiling details.

Resale homes may even have little quirks to them, like archways between rooms and lovely front porches.

New construction homes simply don’t have the charm or character that resale homes have.

Many new construction homes in Santa Cruz are built with modern architecture that offers clean lines and sleek designs, so everything in these homes looks pristine and untouched.

Choice of Neighborhood

An attractive feature of buying a resale home in Santa Cruz is that you have your pick of any neighborhood in the city.

Many neighborhoods in Santa Cruz are already established, so much of the real estate within is resale.

There are an abundance of options when it comes to buying resale in Santa Cruz, making it a very popular choice for homebuyers.

When you buy new construction, you don’t have much choice in terms of neighborhood and location.

Although more and more new construction homes hit the Santa Cruz real estate market every day, the majority of them are located in Scotts Valley and Aptos where new construction communities are on the rise.

The Bottom Line

There are equal benefits to buying new construction as there are to buying resale here in Santa Cruz. Depending on your lifestyle and budget, you may lean towards one over the other.

But sometimes it’s hard to know what you want without ever testing the water. So on your home search, be sure to tour both new construction and resale homes to see what’s best for you.

Are you buying a home in Santa Cruz? Contact Lauren Spencer today for expert real estate advice! She’ll help you with all your real estate needs so the home buying process can be as simple and as stress free as possible.

Posted by Lauren Spencer on
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