Which would you choose?

We are between 2 homes right now. Help me decide!

Home 1: Last house on a dead end block. Serene (next to a preserve). Home is a new constructions so you can pick everything out to your liking. No formal living room (which I like). But would need to make office in basement. My only concern here is the yard may be very shady. House has a pool already. And, being in the end of the block could be isolating.

Home 2: Completely remodeled. Everything is done. On a great block with kids and lots of young neighbors. Yard is full sun but no pool yet - would need to put $ into the yard. They have an office and formal living room (I might convert to a play room). Better curb appeal. Only concern here is basement is darker (2 small windows/ 8 ft ceiling) and kitchen is not my "style". Absolutely stunning kitchen but not what I would have picked.

Homes have the same sq footage and pretty much the same price. We are really torn!!

Re: Which would you choose?

What are the taxes like on the new construction?

In lieu of a formal LR, what kind of room is there in the new construction? Or is it just a large den?

JMO but a shady yard is nice in the summer. Full sun is great for a garden, but not so much for spending tons of time outdoors.

Are they in the same school district? (You mentioned wanting a playroom so I assume you have kids?)

Re: Which would you choose?

Re: Which would you choose?

I'd pick house 2.

A new construction has downsides...you won't know the actual taxes until after you close. Everything will be extra (materials and finishes beyond the basics, landscaping, fencing). I don't know of any builder who will finish the basement when building the house. Taxes would be much higher so they will usually finish the basement after you move in and not before you buy. So if the office is a must, it may not be immediately possible to have.

If everything is done in house 2, other than the yard, I would go with that -- especially if you need a main floor office. You can always add shade to a yard with things like awnings, gazebos, trees, etc. A pool is nice to have but can be added more easily than you can change the layout, and you can really only use the pool for 4 months or so per year. You may not care about a formal living room, but it's good to have for resale, and as you said, you can repurpose the space to suit your family (e.g a play room).

Re: Which would you choose?

I think I would go with house #2

Re: Which would you choose?

Having BTDT, I would never purchase another new construction home again.

You don't know your real taxes until after you purchase the house, the listing price isn't what you will actually pay after all the upgrades add up, it's not an established neighborhood so you don't know what you're going to get as far as neighbors, there is the possibility that the value of your home may decrease after you purchase it (this happened with me and we lost ALOT of money when we sold), it may be years before the construction around you is completed.

Personally, I would go with the pre-existing home. Especially if it's in a nice neighborhood.

Re: Which would you choose?

I would go with house #2. It sounds like there is a little more segregated space. I like the open concept but having space where you can punt your kids (especially when they are teenagers and want to watch Ridiculousness marathons) so they are out of your way is awesome. As far as the basement is concerned, we had that issue. We just painted it a lighter color and added high hats. It's very bright down there now.

Which would you choose?

House 2. Also a big fan of some separate spaces. You can use the LR for anything; it doesn't *have to be a formal room. I also like the idea of an office on the main floor. Put high hats in the basement and paint it a light, bright color.

Re: Which would you choose?

Def # 2 for me.

Which would you choose?

Definitely #2

Re: Which would you choose?

Re: Which would you choose?

I may be in the minority but I love a new construction, I love a shaded yard, I love being able to pick my own stuff and I love the open floorplan and just the layout of the new one -- how it sounds. My parents bought a new construction and it worked out fine, they were able to get a realistic estimate about taxes and it was worth it. Taxes are a lot everywhere. To me, personally, that wouldn't bother me. But I understand why other people feel that way. I also grew up on a dead-end, quiet block and it was the best thing ever. Always rode my bike out there and never had to worry.

Re: Which would you choose?

Just hearing that it's on a dead-end, next to a preserve was almost enough for me to pick #1. I love shady yards, too. Much more comfortable in the summer.
With new construction, you can get what you want, instead of living with what someone else decided on, or spending $$ to redo the house/rooms. I'm particular about what I like and don't like, and I would rather have new construction.

Which would you choose?

I'd go for #2.

Re: Which would you choose?

Personally i would like 1, because I would like the privacy and I like the shady yard and I like to pick everything and have it be my taste. Or I would chose a fixer upper that I remodel, but I don't think I would want someone else's remodel.

However, just something to consider: we live next to a preserve and we have deer, a lot of deer, and they come on our property (not sure if where you are would have deer, we're out east). I walked our dogs in the yard yesterday and came back in with SIX, yes SIX, deer ticks on me. With kids, I would be very concerned if they would play in the yard and come in with ticks. My boyfriend's children are teens so we don't worry, they don't play out in the grass like younger kids would and they know to check and have us check, too, but if they were little it would be a consideration.