Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
There's nothing like the excitement of designing and building a new home. Choosing every aspect of your dream home from the neighborhood, lot size, and layout all the way down to countertops and finishes can be thrilling.
With that in mind, you also have to be smart when making choices you'll live with for a long time! Take some expert advice from the pros at Interstate Homes, a sought-after builder in Southern Utah.
Their new development overlooking the beautiful Hurricane Valley, The Ridge at Zion Vista Homes, might convince you to take the leap and leave the cold, smog, and snow of Northern Utah behind.
Before you make the big move, you need to know which mistakes to look out for when choosing your new home.
Mistake 1: Trying to make a home fit the lot
Going into the building process with a home plan already decided before purchasing the lot will probably end up in frustration – like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
It's smarter to choose a building lot first and then design a home that seamlessly utilizes the lot, taking into account exposures, slope of the land and especially the views.
An experienced builder like Interstate Homes will help you maximize the lot's potential by carefully considering your wants and needs along with window placement, home orientation, city requirements, backyard plans, and more.
Mistake 2: Choosing the wrong location
Location, location, location! Carefully consider whether a community fits your lifestyle.
"I've never seen a new buyer regret buying a home with an incredible view," says Chase Stratton, CEO of Interstate Homes.
Choosing the right subdivision or neighborhood, researching future developments nearby, and figuring out how long it takes to walk or drive to nearby amenities like shopping, restaurants, and hiking are all factors to consider.
Smart buyers will talk to the residents in the neighborhood they are considering.
Mistake 3: Waiting for the perfect time
You're probably aware of the high interest rates slowing the current real estate market. When rates are high — around 6.5% currently — prices are compressed. When interest rates drop, home prices will shoot up as demand increases.
Waiting for that elusive interest rate of 3% before you make your move will just put you in line with everyone else waiting for the same thing. You may be better off making a thoughtful home purchase now and refinancing when interest rates dip. Don't wait for the perfect market and miss out on living!
Mistake 4: Overlooking little details
Shade planning may seem like a minor detail. In sunny Southern Utah, it's a big thing. Lot selection and the home's orientation to the sun are considerations that could make or break your "happy meter". You'll need to design your outdoor living space to provide shade during the day so that when the temperature soars, you're still comfortable in your properly shaded outdoor area!
Another detail often overlooked is your neighborhood's homeowner association. Some HOAs get a bad rap, but a good HOA can be an asset that keeps property values high and expenses to a minimum.
Some HOAs in the St. George area might give you sticker shock with fees in the hundreds—even as high as $600 a month! At the Ridge at Zion Vista, monthly HOA fees are only $35 and cover upkeep and maintenance of common areas.
Mistake 5: Assuming it's too late to integrate smart technology
With advancements in Wi-Fi, AI, and smart home devices, you can add tech features even after a home is completed. Interstate Homes builds features into each home that allow for the option of integrating high-tech features later. This adds flexibility for your home to grow with the technology you may want to add down the road.
In their 2025 parade home, Interstate Homes features a budget-friendly hands free smart home using the Alexa Echo Show as the hub. The home's pools, fireplaces, cameras, and music can all be controlled with the one remote you'll never lose: your voice!
Mistake 6: Not considering all your options
Many folks who move to the St. George area overlook the option of buying a new, move-in-ready home in favor of finding their dream home. But there are advantages to buying a newly built home, like saving thousands on the rent you'd spend during the construction period of a custom home.
Plus, with a finished home, what you see is what you get. There will be no unforeseen costs or expensive mistakes to anticipate. "It removes the hassle of making tons of decisions and delays" Stratton says.
"Our move-in-ready homes can run as much as $200,000 less than similar-sized custom homes. While we offer both types of homes, 65% of homes sold in The Ridge subdivision have been move-in-ready."
You should ask about promotions too. For example, Interstate Homes is offering a huge senior discount for limited time only.
Mistake 7: Navigating the real estate market alone
You'll need a local real estate team well-versed in the intricacies of the local market. This will save you money in the short and long run.
An experienced agent like the ones at the Porter Team at ERA Brokers Consolidated brings vast knowledge of the Southern Utah market and can steer you through all the questions that new construction or buying brings.
Decisions like which upgrades are worth doing now versus waiting until later, pointing out electrical and plumbing upgrades, and negotiating leverage with homebuilders.
You should ask your agent about promotions too. For example, Interstate Homes is offering a huge limited-time discount for seniors.
Mistake 8: Choosing the wrong builder
You want to have an experienced builder working for you to keep your home construction on schedule. Interstate Homes has processes in place to keep their homebuilding schedules on track, usually finishing your dream home within seven months.
"We build not only your dream home, but "dream" neighborhoods where each home is distinctive but part of a cohesive group," says Chase Stratton, CEO of Interstate Homes. "If we don't have your dream home now, we'll build you one!"
Take a look at new homes in Southern Utah
If you want a home that checks all these boxes, you'll want to learn more about the Ridge at Zion Vista. Interstate Homes has eight brand new, move-in-ready homes with incredible views available now in the growing hotspot of Hurricane. Visit zionvistahomes.com to learn more about this new subdivision and senior discounts or call (435) 294-3113 for more information. Also consider looking over their virtual tour.
