By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the Manley family

The Manley family advocates for building a new house instead of purchasing a resale.

Homeowners in the Castle Pines community don’t keep a for sale sign in the yard long; many don’t even have to stake a sign before interested buyers come looking to purchase. Add in highly-rated public schools and amenities like trails, parks and pools, and buyers looking to move into the community may find themselves competing for existing homes.

Statistics from the National Association of Realtors show inventory for the sale of existing homes has been at a record low, and anecdotal evidence from agents indicates homebuyers are moving from cities to suburbs, small towns and country properties. Castle Pines is a prime location. With burgeoning developments currently under construction, opportunities to build a new house in the community abound.

The Manley family – Stu, Judy, Ethan and Payton – relocated to Castle Pines nearly three years ago from California. They had been visiting Stu’s family for a ski trip in Steamboat Springs when they made the decision to move to Colorado. Judy had college friends already living in Castle Pines, and with Stu’s family living in the Denver area, it was an easy decision to make.

Judy commented that looking at resale homes was never an option for them. After living in a home with leaking copper pipes, she said they only build new houses. In fact, they put a deposit down on a lot in the Castle Valley development off of Lagae Road a week after returning from their ski trip.

Watching construction and following progress from the ground up is one of the benefits and pleasures of building a new house versus buying an existing home.

Building a new house has the potential to cost more per square foot and may incur additional costs for landscaping, window coverings and other upgrades – expenses which are typically less or non-existent when purchasing an existing home. However, there are many checks in the plus column when weighing the pros and cons of building a new house.

Selecting a floor plan and adding self-expression in the details of the house, such as choosing countertops, cabinets, flooring and trim are all examples of the many choices that come with building a new house. Additionally, new builds are going to have the most current codes, the most environmentally and energy efficient standards, as well as feature the most current technology in everything from heating and cooling to appliance choices.

No home is perfect, and Judy said that in her experience, no build is perfect either. With a new build, she said, you have more leverage with the builder. If on inspection something isn’t right, the buyer can put the final sale on hold to ensure adjustments are made. She also appreciates having a warranty to cover virtually everything on the house. Traditionally warranties are good for the first two years, and then 8-10 year structural warranties go into effect. Some builders also offer material and workmanship warranties as well.

Moving a family across states is a big life-changing event. The Manleys don’t regret the decision at all, except maybe when it’s below freezing with blowing snow. As far as building a house goes though, Judy said, “I would do it again.”