Are You Ready for Your Own Yorba Linda Custom Home?
Edie Israel
After years of executive sales and marketing experience as well as entrepreneurial success, Edie entered into the real estate market of Southern Calif...
After years of executive sales and marketing experience as well as entrepreneurial success, Edie entered into the real estate market of Southern Calif...
If a Yorba Linda custom home is on your wish list for 2016, you’ve come to the right place to start the ball rolling!
By building your own home or buying a spec home, you know you’ll be able to check off all the boxes for your must-haves, including your ideal location.
The custom home process can be a little confusing if you haven’t done it before — and sometimes even if you have!
Buying a Spec Home
You’ve probably heard of the builder spec home, in the context of a new subdivision. They also exist in the custom home world, although on a more limited basis.
Custom builders often buy lots or small tracts of land to develop. If they believe the market is strong enough, they will design a home to suit a particular lot and finance the construction themselves. When a buyer comes along, the builder usually lets them choose finishes or make other custom changes.
The benefit to going this route is that you won’t have to take out a construction loan or go through the hassle of hiring an architect to design your home.
The downside is that the home may not be exactly as you envisioned it. However, most good builders know what buyers want, and you may find a spec home is almost as great as one you would design yourself!
Choose Your Lot, Plan and Builder
If you won’t settle for anything less than exactly what you want, you can find a custom lot in your area of choice, then hire an architect to design the home.
Once your design is complete, you can solicit bids from builders, then negotiate until you’re comfortable with the contractor. In this scenario, you will have to either pay out of pocket for the lot and design, or take out a construction loan to pay some or all of your costs.
Although this approach involves a little more time and effort on your part, it allows you to control the process and ensures you’ll get what you want.
Use a Realtor® for Best Results
Even if you’re a pro at the custom home game, having an experienced real estate agent on your side is the best way to protect yourself.
Unfortunately, the land sales and home building industries are still rife with less-than-honest people who sometimes prey on unwitting buyers. Fortunately, most builders are honest, experienced and well qualified, but it may be hard for you to tell the good ones from the bad.
Be sure to have your agent with you when you contact builders, or ask the Realtor® to recommend a few companies in your desired area. Otherwise, the builder may try to circumvent your agent, leaving you vulnerable.
Investing in a custom home is an expensive proposition, especially in Southern California. Trust a licensed Realtor® to help you prequalify your builder and select the right location for you.
In the Yorba Linda area, the Edie Israel Team of experienced Realtors® understands the new home market extremely well. We are familiar with the reputable local builders, and we can help you review your purchase agreement, construction plans and other important documents.
We can assist you in monitoring the progress of your home to ensure that your Yorba Linda custom home is everything you’ve dreamed of!