Buying a brand-new home is different when you live a thousand miles away. The finishes are chosen from photos, the walkthroughs happen over video, and the questions pile up faster than email can answer them. Here are the twelve questions we make sure out-of-state buyers ask before they sign, drawn from the same checklist we use for our own relocation clients. It applies to every new build we show, including 23 Cornerstone Dr.
1. What is the completion date, in writing?
New construction slips. The useful question is not the target date but what happens if the builder misses it: does your rate lock protection carry, and can you extend your own sale or lease without penalty?
2. What exactly is included in the base price?
Driveway, landscaping, blinds, appliances, gutters, a fence, a garage door opener. Every line should be on the cost sheet. If a term is vague, get it defined.
3. What is optional, and what does each option cost?
Ask for the live upgrade list with prices, not the pretty brochure. Decide your budget for optional finishes before you walk the design center, or the upgrades will walk you.
4. Who is my point of contact during construction?
For an out-of-state buyer this is the most important relationship you will have. Get the builder's project manager's direct line, and learn their preferred update cadence, weekly photos, video, a call.
5. Can I hire an independent inspector?
A pre-drywall inspection is the one that matters most, and many builders accept one from a licensed third party. If the answer is no, ask exactly why and get it in writing.
6. What does the walkthrough and warranty process look like?
Ask how much time you get at final walkthrough, how defects get documented, and how warranty claims are filed in year one. New homes still need the squeaky wheel treatment.
7. What are the deadlines for selections?
Flooring, cabinets, fixtures, and paint are decided on a schedule, often weeks before you think you need to decide. Miss one and the builder picks for you, or charges to change it.
8. How do utility and internet hookups actually work here?
County lots can mean private water, septic, or propane where city infrastructure does not reach. Ask who runs what, what the monthly cost will be, and whether fiber internet is available at the address.
9. What will the property tax bill really be?
The tax on a brand-new home is based on the new assessment, not the land value. Ask the county for an estimate using the finished value, and budget for it.
10. Is there an HOA, and what does it actually control?
Get the covenants and the fee in writing before you sign. Some neighborhoods near town have one, some do not, and 'no HOA' is a feature to some buyers and a question to others.
11. Which school district serves this exact address?
Mailing addresses and district lines disagree all over this region. Call the district with the street address and confirm enrollment and bus service in writing. See the post on the county line for more.
12. Who will check on the home between my visits?
If you are buying from another state, your agent matters more than the model home's finishes. A local agent can walk the lot, attend inspections, and video-call you through decisions between visits.
The through-line
Every one of these questions is about the same thing: making sure the person on the ground is on your side. That is what a relocation-focused local agent is for, walking the lot while you are at work in another state, attending the pre-drywall inspection in person, calling you with the honest version of what the builder said. The house will get built either way; having eyes on it is the difference.
Buying 23 Cornerstone Dr from out of state?
It is brand new, currently unbuilt, and this is exactly the kind of purchase we handle every month: local eyes, honest reporting, weekly updates, and no surprises at the end.