Building My New Home in Durbin Crossing in St. Johns County
As I shared in my recent Blog article, we built our new home only last year in the Durbin Crossing community in St. Johns County in Jacksonville, FL. This was the first time I built a home as a Realtor, but the second time I'd built a new home. The process is both rewarding and challenging. Unless you have unlimited means you must make compromises both with your budget and with your spouse. Inevitably we have gone well above our budget both times. I have found as a Realtor though and taking into account that you will most likely put your home on the resale market in years to come, there are certain things you do because they will help with resale and certain things you will forego because they are either going to be a detriment to resale or because the cost does not make an appreciable difference in a resale. Having said all this, I believe it is especially important to have a competent Realtor with you at both contract and at your design appointment. As Realtors, we have the experience of working with home buyers and know what it is they look for when they are buying an existing home and can help you take these things into consideration.
So here is my professional opinion of what really matters...LOCATION!! LOCATION!! LOCATION!!! If you've ever watched the Real Estate Channel or picked up any homes for sale circulars, you've seen this title. You've seen it for a reason. It's the number one factor when it comes to resale. I always tell my clients, you can knock down a wall or update a kitchen but you can't pick a home up and move it. You can notice how important location is just by real estate prices. If you buy a home on the outskirts of town (in our area like in Julington Creek Plantation or Durbin Crossing) in Jacksonville versus a home near downtown, a central location or at the beach, you will notice a huge difference in the $/square foot. You pay for convenience. If you build a home, you will most likely pay a lot premium. You pay for the lake view or the preserve. You pay for the end of a cul-de-sac. If you have only $20,000 to spend, put every cent into the location. When you go to sell your home, all things being equal, yours will sell first.
There's so much more on this topic so please look for more tips on what to pay for and what to forego in my next Blog.
