Building and Buying in the Lowcountry: What’s the Right Choice for You?

Everyone wants a beautiful home to call their own, so it’s no surprise that—when given the option—prospective homeowners sometimes choose to have a new home built rather than buying a pre-owned residence. But how do you know which route is best for you?

Consider the following factors to help determine whether building or buying a home in the Lowcountry is right for you:

Benefits of Building a Home in the Lowcountry

There’s a lot to love about having a home custom built in the Lowcountry, but we’ve narrowed down the list to a few key advantages.

Ability to Customize Every Element

Most people will say that the greatest part of building a custom home is having the ability to create something completely one-of-a-kind. That mudroom you’ve always wanted with a rinse station just for the dog? It’s all yours!

Going the new-build route affords you the opportunity to work with a designer and builder to customize your:

• Floor Plan
• Design
• Interior and Exterior Finishes
• Appliances
• Outdoor Living Zones
• Hobby Rooms and Flex Spaces

Newer Features Available

(Source: Unsplash)

With a brand new build, you have the opportunity to install appliances with the latest features, including:

• Smart Home Technology – From smart thermostats to smart locks, you can make managing your home easier—and hands-free—with a range of smart tech. Ask Alexa to dim the lights, or your Google Assistant to play your favorite TV show!
• Energy Efficient Appliances and Lighting – Energy-efficient lights and/or appliances are not only better for the environment, but can also cut down on your electricity and water bills.

Move-In Ready When Completed

When you buy a home, you may want to renovate a few rooms or upgrade certain features that previous owners chose to keep. Depending on how significant these changes are, remodeling could cause you to press pause before moving into your new home after closing. By contrast, when building a home, you control all of these customizations from the start. Once construction is complete, you can move in immediately.

Long-Term Savings

The cost of building a custom home from the ground up include:

• Land
• Architect/Designer + Floor Plan
• Contractor
• Materials Required to Build
• Appliances
• Landscaping

But don’t let these costs scare you! Although building a home will require significant investment upfront, the decision could potentially save you more over time, as newer homes typically require less maintenance. (You won’t have to worry about that dishwasher going out for a very long time!)

Professional Architects and Contractors Available to Help

There are many moving parts involved when building a home, so it’s important to choose the right design-build team to avoid unnecessary stress. Here in the Lowcountry, we are fortunate to have many talented and award-winning local architects and contractors (many of whom have had their work featured by HGTV and prominent national publications). If you need a recommendation, just ask! We’d be happy to introduce you to qualified professionals who will work with you to bring your dream home to life.

Photo of the HGTV Dream Home 2020 by Tomas Espinoza | Built by Shoreline Construction in the Lowcountry

Build Closer to Your Favorite Lowcountry Amenities

Last but certainly not least, when you build a house, you get to choose the location of your home—meaning you can plant roots as close to your favorite Lowcountry destinations or amenities as possible! Palmetto Bluff, in particular, offers amazing homesites, and membership within the community will give you daily access to world-class activities ranging from horseback riding to kayaking in a scenic setting defined by natural beauty.

Benefits of Buying a Home in the Lowcountry

Opting to build a home in the Lowcountry offers its fair share of pros, but there are also plenty of advantages that come with buying a home. These benefits include:

Convenience

When you build a home, you’ll have to spend quite a bit of time finding the right architect and builder, as well as deciding which features you want to customize. When you buy an existing home, you’ll be able to dive into the Lowcountry lifestyle right away!

Access to Amenities

Many homes on the resale market are already located near top-notch amenities—particularly within Palmetto Bluff.

Want to try your hand at the May River Golf Course’s 18th hole or paddleboard down the May River? You’ll likely find a home for sale not too far away from these popular destinations that’s equipped with additional features, like paved pathways and community docks, to access them.

Cost-Efficient

Buying a home can save homeowners on costs they would otherwise put toward building. Why not put those funds toward renovating your outdoor living zone, new furniture, or other features you want to upgrade?

We Can Help You Find Your Dream Home!

When searching for homes for sale in Palmetto Bluff and the Lowcountry, you may find that it’s difficult to find the perfect place on your own—especially in light of the recent listing shortage brought about by COVID-19 migration patterns.

Our team of realtors would be honored to assist you with your search. As fellow residents and members of Palmetto Bluff, we have insight into which listings will be coming up for sale before they ever hit the market, which gives you an excellent opportunity to score a hidden gem! We’d be more than happy to help you to make the home search and buying process easier, even—and especially—when options are limited.

Should You Build or Buy a Lowcountry Home?

Ultimately, deciding to build or buy in the Lowcountry depends entirely upon your preferences, as both present amazing opportunities. If you want control over every feature of your new home, you can’t go wrong with building a beautiful custom home from the ground up. However, if convenience is a priority, you’ll likely find a gorgeous property with everything you could ever want from a pre-existing home in Palmetto Bluff!

Regardless of whether you want to build or buy a house in the Lowcountry, our team is here to help. Check out our featured listings for amazing new properties on the market, or contact us to learn more about making a move to the Lowcountry!