The real estate market is picking up, making 2016 the perfect year to purchase a new home. Trends for this year include more people selling their homes because home values are increasing, millennials and others becoming first-time home buyers after years of saving up, and baby boomers downsizing into new homes that will lower their cost of living during their retirement years.

As all of these groups enter the housing market, one question everyone is asking is whether they should purchase a pre-existing home or build a brand new home. To help in the decision, we’ve created this list of the top 10 reasons people choose to buy new homes over used homes.

1. The Ability to Customize

The number one reason people give for building their own home is that it gives them the ability to customize. Buying a home is a huge purchase and something you will have to live with for years to come. Today’s new home builders can help build the exact home you’ve been dreaming of. Imagine having the perfect design and layout, decked out with your favorite flooring, cabinets, countertops and more. A home that was created just for you and your lifestyle. The possibilities are endless, and they are yours when you choose to build a new home.

2. The Ability to Choose Your Home Builder

Not only can you have a completely customizable home, but you also have the ability to choose who builds it. Let’s face it – all home builders are not the same. When you buy a used home, you always have to wonder who built it and what mistakes or flaws were made. When you choose to build from scratch, you can review new home builders in your area and choose the one that you are completely confident in.

3. Financial Advantages

Sure, it sounds nice to customize your own home and choose who builds it, but perhaps you are worried about the cost. If so, you will be happy to learn there are many financial advantages to deciding to build a new home versus just purchasing a used one. Some advantages include:

• A new home will include features that will save on energy costs.
• A new home will likely command a higher value if you decide to resell.
• A new home gives you the ability to roll the costs of upgrades into the mortgage, allowing you to enjoy upgrades right away and pay for them over time.

In addition, there are many avenues you can take when choosing to build a new home. You can go big and get complete customization, or you can choose a production home builder which limits some of your customization options but helps to keep the costs down. All in all, there are many financial advantages of new homes.

4. Contemporary Floor Plan

Getting back to the home itself, a new home will allow you to get a contemporary floor plan and layout. Floor plans change over time, but what many home buyers are looking for today is the open concept floor plan which is something that can be hard to find in used homes because this type of floor plan wasn’t always popular. With the ability to customize, new home builders can give you the floor plan and layout you want, which will make your new home a better fit for your family.

5. Improved Comfort and Air Quality

The stereotypical old home is dusty and drafty. While these conditions may not be glaringly obvious when you tour used homes, the fact is that there have been huge changes over the year in the standards and codes that new home builders must meet. With improvements in HVAC systems and better ways to seal the home so heated or cooled air does not escape, you will experience improved comfort and air quality in your new home.

6. Energy & Cost Savings

New homes also offer significant energy savings compared to used homes, and this translates into lower energy costs. As mentioned above, today’s new home builders apply the best techniques to seal up the home including using high-quality insulation and double- or triple-pane windows. Your energy usage is also lowered by installing energy efficient appliances and water-efficient features. These features will help you save money and the environment at the same time.

7. Safety

New homes are also safer than many used homes on the market. Safety is improved because your new home builders will be using the latest and safest building codes, as well as incorporating multiple safety measures including using fire retardant insulation and carpets, hard-wired smoke detectors, low VOC paints, and up-to-date circuit breakers.

8. Less Maintenance and Fewer Repairs

When you buy a used home, you are setting yourself up for a line of repairs and maintenance. Over time, things will start to show wear and to break down, which means stress and costly fixes. Repairs and maintenance aren’t really a concern for new homes because everything inside is new and many things are still under warranty for years to come. You won’t have to worry about if the furnace is going to break or when the walls will need painting. This is a savings for your wallet and your sanity.

9. New Home Communities

The benefits of new homes don’t just lie in their construction. In fact, we can look outside to find benefits too. Today’s new homes are often built in nice communities that have been created for new homes just like yours. Before construction, new home builders select the best locations for the communities so residents will be near good schools and close to work and recreational areas. Not only will you enjoy a prime location, you’ll also love the comradery you can build with your neighbors who have just moved in as well. Many new home communities also offer great neighborhood amenities such as parks and pools for local residents to enjoy and mingle with neighbors.

10. That New Home Feel

A final benefit of new homes over older homes is a little more intangible in nature – that new home feel. When you choose to build your own home, you’ll have the joy of knowing that it was built just for you and your family. It’s perfect in every way and is a home you can truly take pride in.

As homebuyers enter the real estate market in 2016, they will be contemplating whether to build their own home or buy a used home already on the market. The decision should be easy for most people, and these ten reasons hopefully help explain why more and more people are turning to new home builders to build the ideal home for them.