So.
Some of you know that
when we purchased our home
we bought a Bank Owned property.
What some of you might have assumed
was that it was a used home and
that we would be inheriting "issues"
from previous owners.
You know...things like paint choices,
add ons that were super neat (but not built to code)
garden choices that didn't flow with our sustainable living choices.
Thing is.
Though we bought a Bank Owned home,
NO ONE had ever lived in our home.
It was brand new construction built to semi-custom specs.
And the home we sold to move in to our current home?
That one was new NEW construction.
The kind where you get to tell the builder what color tile or carpet you want
and where to put the stairs.
Given a choice, here are two things I would always choose:
Buying a home over renting a home (more on that in a second)
Building a new home over buying a pre-owned home.
I know you might tend to think that in this market of freely available homes
(which is actually NOT the case in my neighborhood, there is actually a lack of supply)
that building yet another home isn't environmentally friendly.
But here are three ways in which going newly built IS more green than you might have thought:
1. Newly built homes are more energy efficient.
Here in the PNW, that really matters.
From what I've seen,
newly built homes give you the option to do the obvious
(like choose specific products you want used in construction)
AND it gives you the option to think outside of the box
for instance, choosing your window size and placement
really matters for energy efficiency.
From what I've seen,
newly built homes give you the option to do the obvious
(like choose specific products you want used in construction)
AND it gives you the option to think outside of the box
for instance, choosing your window size and placement
really matters for energy efficiency.
2. Newly built homes can be personalized to fit your needs.
Rather than bringing in heavy machinery after the fact
(and impacting your neighborhood vegetation)
to add on additions or replace/repair aspects
of your pre-owned home to fit your needs,
you can be thoughtful about your needs and build to suit.
When you are building it all at once, budget, size and scope
often get people to scale back their wants
to a realistic set of needs and that is totally green.
(and impacting your neighborhood vegetation)
to add on additions or replace/repair aspects
of your pre-owned home to fit your needs,
you can be thoughtful about your needs and build to suit.
When you are building it all at once, budget, size and scope
often get people to scale back their wants
to a realistic set of needs and that is totally green.
3. Newly built homes save you time and money...
And they save on world resources.
Usually, for home ownership, when we spend money on our homes,
it is on products for home improvement.
Especially when you live in a house that NEEDS improvement
vs a house that you WANT to just tweak a bit.
All to say that there is a big difference in the supply chain involved
for products like bolts screws and studs (more likely to come from other countries)
than for products like paint and garden plants (which might even be locally available).
It is green to put less of a drain on diesel and oil
and all of the other resources necessary
to get you the home improvement products
you might need to make your already almost perfect house
your own with a newly built home.
Usually, for home ownership, when we spend money on our homes,
it is on products for home improvement.
Especially when you live in a house that NEEDS improvement
vs a house that you WANT to just tweak a bit.
All to say that there is a big difference in the supply chain involved
for products like bolts screws and studs (more likely to come from other countries)
than for products like paint and garden plants (which might even be locally available).
It is green to put less of a drain on diesel and oil
and all of the other resources necessary
to get you the home improvement products
you might need to make your already almost perfect house
your own with a newly built home.
These are just some of my own ideas about why I love owning a new home.
Overall, I love owning a home instead of renting a place to stay because,
well,
because I love having a piece of this world that I can share that is all me.
Homeownership was daunting at first.
Actual home purchasing even moreso.
Actual home purchasing even moreso.
If you want to know more about Buying New,
Check out Start Fresh, Buy New's website.
Check out Start Fresh, Buy New's website.
Even if you don't want to know more about Buying New,
I bet you want to test your knowledge about
Buying New with a shot at winning $10,000.
So get on that already.
Buying New with a shot at winning $10,000.
So get on that already.
But almost 5 years removed from my most recent home purchase
(but not that many months removed from a refinance)
I can say homeownership
of a new home
has been the best adult decision of my life.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
