The ten commandments
Bring your own representation before your first builder visit.
The sales counselor represents the builder. Register your agent from the start, at many builders, registration policy determines whether you can bring one in later at all.
See Ch. 06, 50 Questions Every Buyer Should Ask →Never shop by monthly payment alone.
Compare the full picture: price, rate, taxes, insurance, HOA or district fees, utilities, maintenance, and the cash you need at closing.
See Ch. 07, Community Scorecard →Know the year-two payment before you sign.
New-home escrow estimates are often built on a land-only tax value. Model the payment against the completed-home assessment, not just the builder's opening number.
See Ch. 10, Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About →Compare communities, not just houses.
The same floor plan in two communities can carry a different tax rate, commute, school assignment, HOA, and resale outlook.
See Ch. 07, Community Scorecard →Make lenders and incentives compete on paper.
Get loan estimates from the same week. Convert every incentive into actual dollars, rate, fees, cash to close, before deciding which offer is better.
See Ch. 05, Understanding Builder Incentives →If it isn't in writing, don't count on it.
Incentives, included features, repairs, and sales promises belong in the contract or a signed addendum, not a conversation.
See Ch. 05, Understanding Builder Incentives →Buy the lot, floor plan, and structure before the finishes.
Location, lot conditions, layout, ceilings, windows, and structural options are expensive to change later. Most finishes aren't.
See Ch. 09, The Design Center Guide →Hire independent inspectors, at every stage you can.
Pre-drywall when possible, before closing, and again ahead of your warranty deadlines. New construction is not automatically defect-free.
See Ch. 11, Inspection Guide →Document everything before closing.
Photos, inspection reports, walkthrough notes, and written repair commitments, kept together, and confirmed against what's actually finished before you sign.
See Ch. 13, The Closing Process →Protect the money, then calendar the first year.
Verify wiring instructions by phone before sending funds. After closing, check your homestead-exemption eligibility, log warranty deadlines, and schedule your inspections in advance.
See Ch. 14, Your First Year of Homeownership →