It’s pathetic to see yet ANOTHER real estate scam being run in Maryland, but it underscores how important it is to do your homework when buying a home.

1. Take the time to learn a little more about your builder, and not just from the builder themselves.  Get in touch with people who have used them in the past, research consumer complaints, and find out what their reputation is like.  websites like consumerreports.com and ripoffreport.com are great resources.  Also, try asking on local message boards and forums to see if anyone has an opinion on the builder.
2. Make sure they’re actually licensed.  Every builder has to have a builders license filed with the state of Maryland.  An ounce of prevention goes a long way!
3. Consult a Realtor.  A Buyers agent is paid to work for YOU, and their experience in dealing with real estate jargon and contracts can prevent you from being stuck in a shoddy situation like this.
4. If it sounds to good to be true…… It probably is.  When people are offered a fantastic “deal” like this, the inclination is to jump on it!  Apparently there was a reason in this case for the great deal…. It wasn’t a deal at all!  Don’t give in to high pressure sales tactics if you aren’t comfortable and satisfied with all of the terms and conditions.  Risking this kind of money on a transaction you don’t feel good about can lead to years of heartache.

Price Drops!

So where does this leave new homes?  Well naturally new home prices have been falling as well, and it’s interesting to note that last week prices on new construction built by Ryan Homes in Waldorf, MD fell $20,000!  Prices have been dropping consistently over the last year, but a one time drop of roughly 6% is significant.

Ryan Homes is selling in single family homes in several subdivisions in Waldorf, including Brentwood, Autumn Hills, and Eagles Ridge.  Two weeks ago the starting price in Brentwood was $330k, now that number is starting at $310k.  For Autumn Hills, that number has dropped from $350k to $330k.

Low Prices Motivate Buyers

What strikes me about these communities is their popularity.  Right now I’m exclusively representing two different buyers who have contracts with Ryan Homes.  In both cases we looked at all the builders in the area, compared what each had to offer, and decided that Ryan Homes had the best “bang for the buck”, so to speak.

If you’re interested in comparing new homes in Charles County and want to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible, give me a call at 301-653-8116 and I’ll be more than happy to share with you the line by line comparisons for local new construction that fits your price range.  We’re experts at negotiating with builders and developers to get our clients the best deal possible!

~Jonathan Benya
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St.
La Plata, MD 20646
301-653-8116
301-609-9000

http://www.teambenya.com

The developers are likely to try and pass THEIR extra cost onto you, and it doesn’t make sense to pay more money for a gain that you cannot directly enjoy or change.  Working with a Realtor can save you a lot of time and headache when buying new construction, it doesn’t cost you a thing, and you have the assurance of knowing that someone is there to look out for YOUR best interests, not the builders.