No one wants to pay too much for a house – or sell one for too little. However, if you’re not crystal clear on what affects the resale value of a home, you could end up with a bad deal on either end.

The process of correctly valuing a home is complex. Appraisals on new construction homes are usually required to help determine the value. However, it’s important to remember that the value of a home and the sales price of a home can differ depending on market conditions like demand.

Ultimately, home resale values hinge on a number of contingencies. For example, did you know it isn’t just the interior and exterior condition of the home, but the entire neighborhood that impacts how much a home is worth?

If you’re curious how your current or prospective home compares, get to know these other factors that affect home value.

1. NICE KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

According to Trulia, “The rooms buyers most closely inspect (and judge) in a house are the kitchen and owner’s bath. These are the interior spaces where the most value can be added during a sale, so they need to look their best.” When either one of these spaces are modernized, it can improve a home’s value around 3%.

2. ENERGY EFFICIENT UPGRADES

High-efficiency homes are in high demand. Be it extra insulation, LED lights, or smart appliances with Energy Star ratings, these simple upgrades help add tons of value to a home. Some estimates show homeowners can recoup up to 90% of the cost of energy-efficient windows when they sell. Since sustainability and energy efficiency are so important to today’s homebuyers, Hillwood Communities partners with builders who create homes that meet or exceed current national energy efficiency standards.

3. MARKET AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Unfortunately, some home resale value factors are simply out of your control. The economy is one of them. If the country goes into a recession or there’s a local downturn in your area, expect to see home prices reflect that.

4. POOLS OR OTHER AMENITIES

In many cases, having a pool in the backyard can improve the value of a home. But not everyone is equally enthusiastic or comfortable with them. Homebuyers that have small children (or are planning to) may shy away from homes with backyard pools in some cases. That’s when having a community pool, like those in many of Hillwood’s new home communities, can be a big value booster.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD FORECLOSURES

Did you know that appraisers look at the homes around them to compare and determine a final value? In a new home community, that is likely to be less of an issue. However, if you’re moving into an older neighborhood, or one with lots of short sales, you could be in trouble.

6. SCHOOLS

Every parent wants their child to have attend good schools in a top-notch school district. Even homebuyers without children will consider the quality of a home’s schools and its district when making a purchase decision. They know that when they are ready to sell, this will be an important factor for potential buyers. That’s why Hillwood Communities are always located in good school districts. And Hillwood works with the district to bring a new school into the neighborhood whenever possible.

7. LOCATION AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

You hear it all the time in real estate: location, location, location. Even the best renovations won’t do you much good if the home is in an undesirable area. That’s why so many of our Hillwood Communities are perfectly positioned in regions poised for growth. We take care to build community-based neighborhoods that offer more than a quick commute to major metropolitan areas. And even those with big city proximity still have a small town feel where residents can connect with their neighbors.

FAQ SECTION:

What does resale mean in real estate?

Resale homes are those that have been previously occupied by another homeowner and put back on the market for sale.

How do you increase the resale value of a home?

Certain renovations like bathroom and kitchen remodels or energy efficiency upgrades can increase the resale value of a home by several thousand dollars.

How do I find the resale value of my home?

Using online valuation tools like Zillow can give you a ballpark figure, but they aren’t completely accurate ways to determine the value of your home. Prospective sellers are better off consulting a real estate professional who can conduct a thorough and more accurate Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).

What devalues your home?

Poor curb appeal, neighborhood foreclosures, dated design, inferior schools, and older existing homes in poor condition nearby can devalue the price of a home.

GET BETTER LONG- AND SHORT-TERM HOME VALUE AT HILLWOOD COMMUNITIES

Hillwood Communities are committed to delivering lasting value to modern homeowners. As one of the leading residential real estate developers in the country with a track record of excellence, homes here are designed to hold their value by giving buyers what they want including quality designs, great schools, amenities, proximity to cities, a strong sense of community, and unbeatable curb appeal.

Ready to find a home you can truly value? Find your new home here!

Valencia community development to offer 938 homes

DALLAS – Oct. 26, 2021 – Award winning residential developer Hillwood Communities, a Perot Company, today announced the construction of its second Houston development Valencia. Located in the suburb of Manvel, Texas, the new 440-acre master-planned community will include 938 single-family lots surrounded by several miles of trails and multiple lakes, 28 acres reserved for commercial space and 15 acres planned for a new elementary school.

Valencia is located approximately two miles from Pomona, Hillwood Communities’ first Houston-area community, and is a prime example of Hillwood’s dedication to expanding its community presence in the area. Residents of the new development will live within minutes of beaches, state parks, shopping, dining and various other recreational options as well as several employment centers including Texas Medical Center. Homesites range from 40- to 70-foot lots and will be priced from $300K to $600K.

“We are excited to begin our second Houston project to help support the growth in Houston and the surrounding suburbs,” said Fred Balda, president, Hillwood Communities. “The area’s housing market is strong and gaining momentum, and we look forward to expanding our presence there even further.”

Hillwood Communities has partnered with Perry Homes, Coventry Homes and Pulte Homes for the construction of Valencia residences. The developer previously has partnered with each of these builders within its communities beyond Houston, including Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin.

“We are thrilled to be partnering again with Perry Homes, Coventry Homes and Pulte Homes to bring Valencia to life,” said Russell Bynum, regional manager, Hillwood Communities. “These three homebuilders bring decades of experience and a deep understanding of Hillwood Communities’ superior standard of excellence to the project, and that is reflected in each new home.”

To enhance the quality of living for the future residents of Valencia and surrounding areas, Hillwood created a Municipal Utility District (MUD) Brazoria County #83 during the last Texas legislative session to finance public improvements. In addition, developing Valencia has enabled plans for a new Manvel City Center to move forward.

“Hillwood Communities’ successful efforts in partnering with the city has allowed us to advance our work to provide much needed services and resources to support the growing resident population of our city,” said Debra Davison, mayor of Manvel. “We look forward to welcoming future Valencia residents to our city and to continuing our partnership with Hillwood Communities.”

At Hillwood Communities, we set our standards high, so you can be sure the builders in our master-planned communities will get the job done right. We want our homeowners to feel confident that they’re working with builders who hold themselves to the same high standards, no matter which of our master-planned communities you choose.

But you still have to choose just one builder to work with. So, how do you go about choosing a builder to build your home?

How to Choose a Home Builder

Which builder you choose will depend on your needs and preferred aesthetic. When choosing a homebuilder for your new home construction, follow these steps.

Get Familiar with the Builders at Your Community

If you’ve already chosen a master-planned community, we’ve already done much of the work for you. Every builder we partner with has proven themselves in terms of craftsmanship and overall quality. To learn more about what they contribute to our communities, check out our list of new home builders.

Each of our neighborhoods has a set of respected builders to choose from, and each one has their own aesthetic and style. To view homes by design, go to the New Homes section of your favorite Hillwood Communities website. Many of our websites offer an option to browse home styles by builder and design. This option is called “Build My Home.”

Meet the Builders’ Representatives

If you find a few home designs you like, you’ll develop a short list of builders. At this point, you may want to meet these builders’ representatives. From there, you can start to determine how well they’ll meet your needs. If you’re going to work with a realtor, include them from the very first meeting. If you’re not sure if you want to include a realtor, our blog has more information on that.

All of Hillwood’s builders can be reached by phone, email, or appointment. They’ll answer your questions and help you take the next steps towards building your new home.

Questions to Ask a Home Builder

When you meet with the builder’s representative, you will want to ask plenty of questions. Some good questions to ask a new home builder include:

How long have you been in business?
Can you give references of recent buyers?
Are there any major development plans in the works for this area?
Do you have a financing plan?
What’s included in the cost and will there be any additional fees?
Does your agreement have any restrictive covenants?
What will my taxes be?
What are the common challenges that might arise during the homebuilding process?
Does your price include landscaping?
What floor plan options do we have?
Can any rooms be left unfinished?
Can any appliances be upgraded or downgraded?
How much leeway is there with standard features?
Do you offer a warranty program?
How long does it take to build a home?

Not only will you get important information, but you’ll also get a sense for what it would be like working with them, which is always important when choosing a homebuilder.

View Model Homes

In addition to asking questions about the builders themselves, visit a model home. You can inspect the home up close and you may think of additional questions when you see it in person.

If physically visiting a property isn’t possible for you at this time, view pictures of the builder’s homes online. You can view available home inventory in your selected Hillwood community, take a virtual tour, and peruse photo galleries to get familiar with the builder’s work.

Talk to Other Homeowners

The experiences of other homeowners are always valuable when you’re selecting a homebuilder. Ask if you can talk to some other recent homebuyers. Past customers can help you get a more complete sense of what it will be like working with the builder.

After Choosing a Builder, What’s Next?

Once you choose a new home builder, you’ll work with them to choose a design and layout options. Each of our builders has various options to choose from, both in terms of exterior features and interior layout. You’ll also have to sign a contract, which can be done in-person, by mail, or electronically.

Are you planning to build a new home? Start your search online with any of Hillwood’s master-planned communities where you can:

Take a virtual tour of the community as well as individual model homes
View image galleries and videos
Download floor plans
View homes by design, builder, price, and other features
View available lots, and which homes can be built on them
Browse new homes, including those currently available and new builds under construction

If you’re ready to build a new home, now is a great time! Choose one of our master-planned communities and get started on the new homebuilding process today.

It’s no secret that Dallas-Fort Worth and its surrounding cities are growing faster than other areas in the United States. Relatively close to DFW, these northern communities have all the benefits of the city and Frisco’s $5 Billion Mile, but they also rank among the best small towns near Dallas to live in, with the charms and slower pace of small-town life.

Celin, TX – Fast Growing City

As the Dallas growth rate surges, small communities all around it continue to grow. One of those is Celina, which is about 42 miles north of downtown Dallas. The population has almost quadrupled since 2010, with more than 23,000 people currently living there.

The quality schools, lower-than-average cost of living and the easy commute make this northern suburb of Frisco and Dallas the fastest growing city in the state.

Celina has the friendly, small-town feel that a lot of homebuyers are looking for. Homeownership is becoming more accessible in Celina through USDA loans, which, like VA loans, offer the opportunity to purchase a home with no down payment. These loans are designed to support the growth of rural communities, making Celina an attractive option for those seeking both affordability and sustainability.

Many new homeowners in Celina are choosing Bluewood by Hillwood for its convenient location, beautiful scenery, thoughtful amenities, and new construction homes.

Prosper, TX – Close to Downtown Dallas

Just south of Celina and approximately 35 miles away from downtown Dallas is Prosper. Prosper has the ultimate convenience factor, as the Dallas North Tollway runs through it. Over 10,000 people have moved into Prosper over the last few years. To accommodate the growth, Prosper ISD built a new high school with the latest learning technology including a medical-tech lab and indoor athletic facility.

Residents of Lilyana by Hillwood love being a part of Prosper ISD as it’s one of the top school districts in the state. The district received an A rating by the Texas Education Agency’s accountability system in 2019 for meeting top performance targets for student achievement. Lilyana littles will soon be able to walk to a Prosper ISD elementary school that will be located right in the community.

Along with exceptional education, purchasing a home in Lilyana is more attainable thanks to various loan programs. First-time homebuyers can take advantage of options like FHA, USDA, and VA loans, which may include benefits such as zero down payment and reduced interest rates.

With over 50 acres of green space in the 400-acre development, Lilyana is a walkable neighborhood that offers residents lots of amenities and plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation.

Little Elm, TX – Active Lifestyle Haven

In 2000, fewer than 4,000 people lived in Little Elm, and now the population is over 46,000. Residents have flocked to Little Elm in recent years because of the good schools, reasonable cost of living, and easy commute to commercial centers in Frisco and Dallas.

Another reason people love the town of Little Elm is for its natural scenery and picturesque lakeside views. Residents of Union Park by Hillwood know all about beautiful views. Every home in this outdoor-centric community is just steps from green spaces and trails, and residents can enjoy a centrally located, 30-acre wooded park.

A gmajor benefit for Union Park residents that enables them to enjoy such a nature-rich scenery is the opportunity to buy a home using USDA loans with very low interest rates.

The town of Little Elm is a great place to live if you love living an active lifestyle. The laid-back lake town has many parks with hiking and biking trails and there’s so much to do on and around Lake Lewisville. In addition to all the fun of the lake, Union Park homeowners have loads of opportunities for recreation right in the neighborhood. This master-planned community is known for its incredible amenities including an ADA-accessible playground, an indoor/outdoor fitness park, two pools, a fishing pond, a dog park, a food truck park, and much more.

Why Choose the Small Towns Near Dallas in North Texas?

So, why are so many homebuyers moving to rural towns near Dallas and surrounding cities? When compared to other major metropolitan areas, the rural areas near Dallas are affordable. Home prices and taxes are reasonable, and traffic is manageable. Families and individuals looking for a good quality of small town life have found it in the rural towns and cities north of the Dallas area.

The small towns north of DFW offer residents the best of all worlds. Homeowners in Celina, Prosper and Little Elm enjoy the benefits of small-town living, all the shopping and nightlife they want in nearby Frisco, and job opportunities in Dallas. Explore your suburban Dallas homebuying options in one of Hillwood’s master-planned communities.