Not reliably. The sticker prices are often close enough that the comparison comes down to incentives and unfinished costs. New construction frequently arrives without a finished basement or backyard landscaping, which can add tens of thousands after closing.
Full breakdown: New Construction vs. Resale in Utah: When Does Resale Actually Win? · Smart Buyer Strategy for Utah Home Buyers
It depends heavily on the basement’s size and who’s doing the work. On Micah’s own 1,100 square foot basement — two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen — bids from larger, one-stop-shop basement finishing companies ran $50,000 to $60,000, not including appliances. Micah instead used contractors and workers he’s known for years through his real estate…
Commonly an unfinished basement, backyard landscaping including fencing and sprinklers, and window coverings for the entire home. None of these appear in the purchase price, and all of them land shortly after you move in. Full breakdown: New Construction vs. Resale in Utah: When Does Resale Actually Win? · Smart Buyer Strategy for Utah Home…
Deferred maintenance and dated floor plans. Both are expensive to fix and neither shows up in a price-per-square-foot comparison. An inspection will surface the maintenance; the floor plan cost is one you have to estimate yourself. Full breakdown: New Construction vs. Resale in Utah: When Does Resale Actually Win? · Smart Buyer Strategy for Utah…
When it is a similar size in the area you want, already has finished landscaping and a finished basement, and the seller will fund a meaningful rate buydown. That combination lets you skip the unfinished-cost stack and still get the rate. Full breakdown: New Construction vs. Resale in Utah: When Does Resale Actually Win? ·…
Many will, particularly sellers who have already purchased their next home or have been on the market a while. Builders rarely mention this, but a seller-funded buydown or closing cost credit can match what a builder offers. Full breakdown: New Construction vs. Resale in Utah: When Does Resale Actually Win? · Smart Buyer Strategy for…