As you search for your dream home, you’ll probably hear a variety of opinions on whether you should purchase a newly built home or a resale home. There are advantages to both, and your individual needs—not the age of the structure—should be foremost in deciding which is best for you.

Here are some reasons why….

Perhaps you love the idea that you can be a home’s very first owner. Everything is new and shiny, the neighbors are probably also just moving in, and you can customize the floor plan and colors. Buying a new home can be fun and exciting. Here are some other advantages:

• New homes are built with new materials and appliances, so less maintenance typically is required than with resale homes.

• Offer incentives to buyers

• No bidding war - pick out your home, put a deposit and know your move in date!

• They often have more safety features and fewer health hazards because they conform to today’s building codes, they are energy efficient and solar ready.

• Many home builders offer 10-year warranties in case certain problems develop over time.

• The home’s major appliances and systems also typically include manufacturers’ warranties.

• They typically feature modern architecture and layout, such as great rooms, bigger closets, and additional bathrooms, and do not include the formal dining and/or living rooms of older homes.

• New homes usually are well-insulated due to better windows, more efficient heating and cooling equipment, and greater use of insulation.

• Usually, more amenities offered in new communities.

• The homes often are made with materials requiring less maintenance, such as aluminum siding, vinyl windows and pressure-treated wood decks that resist rot and insects.

• They’re easier to customize than resale homes because you can choose many details upfront—from floor plans and paint colors to faucets and light fixtures.

• New homes are more likely to be wired with new technologies in mind, such as multiple phone lines, high-speed Internet connections and extra cable outlets.