Is New Construction A Good Investment?

Definition of "Is new construction a good investment?"

Jo Ellyn Yturraspe real estate agent

Written by

Jo Ellyn Yturraspeelite badge icon

Coldwell Banker Realty

Investing in real estate has branched out considerably. Many investors in the industry have branched out from rental properties and commercial real estate to house flipping, real estate development, and many others. With so many options available, it’s hard to determine which niche will provide the highest return for your investment. A high percentage of investors will put their capital in older properties that might need some work after the purchase, which means extra costs that come out of the investors’ pocket. However, that doesn’t hold true if you buy new construction. Therefore, you may be wondering if new construction is a good investment or not? Let’s find out!

Investing in new constructions may seem more profitable than you think, and if the trend picks up, many will be left wondering if house flipping is still a thing nowadays? It can certainly be if you know what you are doing, but more often than not, an older house that costs about $100,000 is most likely going to need some work to bring it up to code. Maybe the unexpected will show up during the first snowstorm, affecting the structure of your home, which means more costs. What seemed a good deal, in the beginning, might turn out to be a money pit after all, and no investor wants to see that happening.

Here is where new constructions come into play, and it turns out that real estate investors can see a much better return on investment(ROI) by renting out brand new homes. One of the beauties of investing in a new home is escaping the endless costs of older homes. Of course, you might pay more than what you would typically for an older home, which in term lowers the cap rate. But, aside from not having to deal with unexpected costs for repairs, you leverage a few other things such as location, warranty, and new appliances, as well as discounts.

One of the greatest benefits of having a brand new building is the location. You are getting an A-area home in one of the cities’ up-and-coming areas. For the value of the new construction, you also get excellent infrastructure, good schools, and low crime rates, which is what renters are looking for. Builders often put warranties on properties, which cover any damage within five to ten years. Factor in the new home appliances, and you have yourself a winning investment for your portfolio.

Many would argue that new homes are better built than old ones, but that is not always the case since in an area with high demand for housing, builders are rushed to push more constructions faster, which more often result in poor quality. However, buying a property from the builder rather than a homeowner allows you to research the company more thoroughly to get a good idea of the quality they offer based on people’s ratings and past project evaluations.

You can always get in touch with local real estate agents not just for buying property from homeowners but also to learn more about builders in the area and their work. Keep in mind that some old homes are not a bad investment if you know what you are looking for; therefore, weigh the pros and cons of new constructions vs old homes and find out what works for you.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Questions

Popular Real Estate Glossary Terms

If escrow is the legal “moment” where assets are held by a third party (an escrow agent) hired by both the buyer and the seller of goods like real estate and insurance until the ...

Suppose you are a house hunter, buyer, seller, realtor, or investor. In that case, you've probably come across the term "Gross Rent Multiplier" or GRM. But what exactly is it? Let's shed ...

Receipt given for a partial payment made on the sale of property. It shows the buyer has made a down payment. ...

(1) Government seizes private property, but does not provide fair and reasonable compensation for it. (2) Property is seized and the owners rights abolished because of a legal violation. ...

Exposure can have various meanings in real estate and insurance, depending on the context. Let’s have a thorough look at these scenarios! Exposure as property’s ...

Unintentional error. An example is a house that the seller wants $1,000,000 for but it is mistyped as $100,000. An error may be unilateral or mutual. Some types of errors are the basis to ...

Correcting depreciation by making improvements at less cost than the value added. For example, the management of an aging strip shopping center makes a decision to refurbish the windows and ...

Giving another an immediate benefit. Example are an employee in a real estate company receiving pension or health care benefits after five years of employment, and passing title to ...

Monthly fixed rental payment. ...