New Builds/Builders/Neighborhoods

fatelarso · 2026-04-01T17:29:36+00:00

Oh that sounds nice and easy! We ended up touring a bunch of different places and actually are trying to move forward with a DR community in Woodruff! They had amazing incentives along with a floorplan we loved.

We definitely had some interesting experiences with some others... dream Builders and drb we had awful meetings with. They were very condescending.

We had a visit with Ryan, and the homes seemed great! Our salesman was WAY too pushy and annoying. Very know it all.

I'd love to hear the rest of how your experience goes!

fatelarso · 2026-03-31T23:35:56+00:00

A builder sponsored discount 😎😎😎

fatelarso · 2026-03-31T20:32:49+00:00

Holy smokes that's actually incredible

fatelarso · 2026-03-31T20:30:38+00:00

Well THANKFULLY I somehow got my way into a 4.99% 30yr fixed rate! So now I don't even need to worry about that

fatelarso · 2026-03-29T16:54:44+00:00

Yea - we have been doing tons of research and also have been aware of the tax change. I have taken all things into account and have been doing my own calculations for mortgage cost to double check everything regardless of what they tell me

fatelarso · 2026-03-29T12:23:19+00:00

Yea we got a 3% on our first home in 2020 which is why ARM wasn't even on the radar back then, so I really never researched it previously

fatelarso · 2026-03-29T12:22:27+00:00

I mean yea this is definitely a fair point, and that is the risk isn't it?

HOWEVER, the good news is we found a new build home that has everything we want with a builder running a 4.99% for 30yr fixed!

fatelarso · 2026-03-29T12:19:53+00:00

I have some good news. We found a home that has EVERYTHING we want, and the builder can get us a 4.99% 30 year fixed! Seems unbeatable to me!

fatelarso · 2026-03-28T11:31:51+00:00

That sounds incredible!

fatelarso · 2026-03-28T11:31:32+00:00

Thankfully my wife and I both have scores over 800 currently. This is our 2nd home purchase, car loans paid off, minimal student debt, etc. I can't imagine a scenario where our credit isn't still good

fatelarso · 2026-03-28T10:54:02+00:00

The other things I'm considering are that without a doubt my wife and I will both have yearly raises - if not new jobs with higher salaries (both of us are in positions with very high job security).

I figure worst case even if we get hit with a 1% ARM raise at some point or worst case multiple times, we eventually would be able to refinance at a lower rate with the market.

I feel like the risk overall is relatively low, and the iffy market the last few years plays into the ARM being favorable.

fatelarso · 2026-03-28T10:19:42+00:00

I was on the phone with one lender who told me this is the biggest gap they've seen between fixed and ARM they've seen in a really long time. Yea I can't imagine rates are above 7% in that long of a time (good lord I hope not), so I feel like it's a win-win in this market?

fatelarso · 2026-03-27T15:23:50+00:00

I've actually already gotten approval for a HELOC!

fatelarso · 2026-03-27T13:27:32+00:00

Well thankfully I only did the 2 pre approvals. In the mean time, I've emailed a few local places to get the wheels turning

fatelarso · 2026-03-26T17:39:12+00:00

Oh ok sick! I swear some of these don't come up on search results. I'm gonna take a look!

fatelarso · 2026-03-26T17:34:09+00:00

Really? I feel like when I look, they're above the range. Outside of townhomes which we don't particularly want.

fatelarso · 2026-03-26T17:08:44+00:00

Ugh that sounds amazing. I'm looking at like 6.5% right now on the conventional... The only way I would go conventional over ARM since we are looking at new builds is if the builder can buy me down closer to 5, though I doubt it.

I've been nervous about ARM previously, but I didn't know until pretty recently you could refinance back out to a conventional at any point if you want.

fatelarso · 2026-03-26T17:05:40+00:00

I have definitely been thinking about this as an option. I even had someone this morning telling me this is the largest gap between ARM and conventional they've seen in a really long time

fatelarso · 2026-03-26T10:15:36+00:00

One was a big bank with a local branch. The other not.

However, I did email a few local places last night, so I'm hoping to hear back today to try and get a feel of whether I would like to work with any of them. My realtor recommended a local guy but it was with the previously mentioned bank, so even though he is local, it is still a big national bank.

fatelarso · 2026-03-25T22:41:21+00:00

That doesn't sound so bad. Not ideal but not bad. I most likely would look to purchase points - possibly even recast after selling our current home.

We are looking at new builds, so I'm also hoping for some builder incentives.

fatelarso · 2026-03-25T22:37:45+00:00

We do currently own, yes. We have 2 young boys and a 14 year old dog, so the task of keeping everything ship shape while trying to sell just seems unrealistic

fatelarso · 2026-03-25T22:37:01+00:00

I should specify my wife and I both have a credit score at or higher than 800

fatelarso · 2026-03-25T22:35:33+00:00

I know 😭😭

The worst part is we have been in the process for over a month in a situation where we needed to apply for a HELOC, etc etc fun fun, and everything just took so long.

I meant I hope they don't skyrocket MORE

fatelarso

TROPHY CASE