Negotiating the Price on Austin Real Estate and Homes for Sale:

It can be difficult to negotiate the sales price with an Austin home builder because they may claim the prices on their new Austin homes are based on fixed construction costs.

Experts say home builders more likely to be flexible on price at the very beginning than at the very end of a development project. Early on, most builders want to move people in quickly so the project picks up momentum. Later, the home builder may be less inclined to accept lower offers on homes for sale when only a few lots remain.

If negotiating the price doesn't work, buyers commonly negotiate for better amenities (upgrade carpet, light fixtures, etc.) or lot location. Experts say a home builder will rarely pass up a deal over a couple hundred dollars' worth of carpeting, for example.

Whether you are looking at existing homes or a new home, you should select a Realtor who is knowledgeable with the entire Austin market. An experienced real estate agent can assist you in negotiating the most favorable deal.

Caution in Regards to New Homes for Sale:

When you evaluate the Austin Real Estate market, you can find out a lot more about the entire market and the neighborhood by evaluating the cost of new homes for sale in that area versus the cost of existing homes in that same area.

In many cases land to support new homes usually is located on the outskirts of town. Potential Austin real estate buyers should ask an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent about future access to public transit, entertainment activities, shopping centers, churches and schools. For example, find out how far it will be from the new community to the nearest library or shopping center.

Local zoning ordinances also should be reviewed. A rather remote area can turn into a fast-food-chain haven within a couple of years. Try to ensure that the neighborhood where the new homes are located, if not strictly residential, will not begin sprawling out of control.

New Austin Homes Versus Previously Owned Austin Homes?

Although new homes for sale typically have a higher sales price than comparable existing homes, buyers are willing to spend more upfront with an understanding that part of what they are paying for is assured low maintenance costs. A home builder's warranty, along with brand-new roof, appliances, furnace and other operating systems that make major home repairs unnecessary, work together to counteract possible slower appreciation initially.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 1991 American Housing Survey suggest that operating costs per house are lowest for brand-new homes, slightly higher for relatively new existing homes but lower on average for older existing. Measured per square foot of living space, however, operating costs are consistently higher for progressively older existing Austin homes.

Utility costs associated with houses are the largest component of operating costs. Energy consumption per square foot depends on size of the home, insulation, window quality, air leakage and efficiency of the furnace. Operating costs also include expenditures for both routine maintenance and major repairs associated with Austin Texas real estate.