The Latest

True story. A friend went shopping for used cars. She came across one that met her requirements. The downside is that she'd be buying it directly from the owner. She did her due diligence and did a search on the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to check on the car's history. It looked good. It drove well. It fit the bill. She bought the car on a Friday. That following Monday, she went to take care of the title. That's when the trouble started. The title had a problem. The company that sold the car to the owner she bought it from did not fill out the required paperwork. Long story short, it required a lot of work to fix it. She returned the car. She found a car she liked at a dealership. And they took care of the title and taxes. The Risk of Buying a Used Home Buying a used home is sort of like buying directly from the owner. Except you can't do your due diligence like with a vehicle history search. The only thing you can do is verify the title for the home. While sellers are supposed to reveal problems with the home, not all of them provide the full details. You don't know the history of a used home. When you work with a DFW builder who builds new homes, it's like buying a new car. It has no history to worry about. You get to make history in a new home! Do Your Due Diligence You can do your due diligence by researching DFW builders like Sandlin Homes. Browse their website. Check their About page. Discover their story. Ask for references. Tour their homes. As you browse for homes, you may look at lived-in homes and new homes. Buying new offers more advantages because you won't find rotted walls, rusted plumbing, or anything typical of an older home. And there are rarely any problems with the home. Before you sign on the dotted line for the mortgage loan and title, you'll do an inspection of the home. Your real estate agent can guide you through the process to ensure the home is flawless. And if you catch a mistake, a good builder will happily fix it. In choosing a DFW builder, look up their history to see how long they have been in business. A company like Sandlin Homes that has welcomed families into their new homes for more than 60 years. This kind of longevity speaks volumes about a family-owned company. Check awards, associations, and warranties. You want your home buying experience to be more like buying a car from the dealership than from the owner without knowing its history. With a new home, you'll be in charge of your home's history and destiny!