Buying a new construction home is a different experience from purchasing a resale property, and for most buyers it is a better one. You are not competing in bidding wars over someone else's house. You are choosing a home designed to fit your life, watching it come together, and walking through the door on closing day knowing every surface, system, and finish is brand new.
But the process has its own steps and terminology. If you have never purchased new construction before, this guide will walk you through the process from your first conversation to the moment you get your keys.
Step 1: Connect with a New Home Specialist
Your first step is reaching out to a New Home Specialist. This is your primary guide through the entire homebuying journey. They will walk you through available neighborhoods, home styles, pricing, and building timelines. They will also help you understand what differentiates one community from another so you can narrow your search efficiently.
You can connect by calling the builder directly, visiting a model home during open house hours, or reaching out through the builder's website. You do not need a Realtor to buy a new construction home, though builders are happy to work with your Realtor if you have one.
Step 2: Visit Model Homes
Model homes are where new construction becomes real. You are not looking at renderings or floor plan drawings. You are walking through a finished, furnished home and experiencing the quality of the finishes, the flow of the layout, and what it actually feels like to stand in the kitchen, sit in the great room, and walk through the owner's suite.
Bring your family, bring your questions, and bring your wish list. Model home visits are the best way to compare builders, floor plans, and communities side by side.
Step 3: Choose Your Neighborhood, Lot, and Floor Plan
Once you have visited model homes and narrowed your options, you will select a neighborhood, a specific home site (lot), and a floor plan. Your New Home Specialist will walk you through available lots, explain any lot premiums for corner sites or premium locations, and help you match the right floor plan to your lifestyle.
This is also a good time to discuss timeline. If the home is already under construction or part of a quick occupancy program, move-in could be weeks away. If you are building from the ground up, the timeline typically ranges from four to twelve months depending on the home type and customization involved.
Step 4: Secure Financing
Most buyers work with a mortgage lender to finance their new construction home. Getting pre-approved before you begin shopping gives you a clear picture of your purchasing power and strengthens your position when you are ready to reserve a home.
New construction financing works slightly differently from a resale purchase. Depending on the builder and the stage of construction, you may use a construction loan that converts to a permanent mortgage at closing, or you may secure a traditional mortgage timed to the home's completion date. Your builder's preferred lenders are experienced with new construction timelines and can guide you through the options.
Step 5: Reserve Your Home and Sign Purchase Documents
When you are ready to move forward, you will sign a purchase agreement and provide earnest money, a good-faith deposit demonstrating your intent to purchase. The specific amount varies by neighborhood and home price, and it is applied toward the purchase price at closing.
The purchase agreement outlines the home's base price, any selected upgrades, the estimated completion date, and the terms of the transaction. Review this document carefully and ask questions about anything you do not understand. Along with the purchase agreement, you will receive the HOA documents including the Declarations, By-laws, Articles of Incorporation, Budget, Rules & Regulations. You will sign a Receipt of Documents and in Minnesota, you may have 10 days to review the documents in detail and ask any questions.
Step 6: Design Selections
This is one of the most exciting parts of buying a new construction home. After completing your purchase documents, you will meet with a Construction & Design Coordinator to select the interior and exterior finishes that make your home yours. This includes cabinetry, countertops, flooring, paint colors, appliances, fixtures, hardware, and more.
The Construction & Design Coordinator will walk you through every option, explain what is included in the standard specification, and help you evaluate upgrades. Take your time with this step. The selections you make here define how your home looks and feels for years to come.
Step 7: Pre-Construction Meeting
Before construction begins, you will meet with the Construction & Design Coordinator and the construction team to confirm all selections, review the timeline, and set expectations for communication during the build. This meeting ensures everyone is aligned before the first shovel hits the ground.
Step 8: Construction
Your home is now being built. A dedicated Construction Superintendent manages your home on-site daily, overseeing all trade contractors, quality, and scheduling. A Project Manager oversees the full neighborhood to ensure all resources and timelines align.
Throughout construction, your home will pass through multiple building inspections by municipal inspectors at key stages to verify code compliance. Many builders also encourage buyers to visit the site at designated milestones so you can see your home take shape.
Step 9: Pre-Closing Inspection
When your home is substantially complete, you will walk every room with the builder's Service Manager during a formal pre-closing inspection. This is your introduction to your new home. The Service Manager demonstrates all mechanical systems, reviews finishes in every room, and documents any final items to address before closing.
This is your chance to ask questions, learn how everything works, and make sure every detail meets your expectations. Any items that need attention are added to a punch list and resolved before or shortly after closing.
Step 10: Closing Day
Closing on a new construction home is genuinely a warm, relaxed experience. Your home is finished and ready. You sign the final documents, the title transfers, and you receive your keys. It should feel like a celebration, because it is one.
At closing, you will sign your mortgage documents, pay closing costs, and officially take ownership of your new home. Your lender and title company will provide a detailed breakdown of all costs in advance so there are no surprises.
After Closing: Warranty and Service
The relationship does not end when you get your keys. Your Customer Service Coordinator becomes your primary contact for the first 12 months, handling all warranty service requests. If something needs attention, they coordinate with the Service Manager to schedule and resolve it promptly.
A good builder does not disappear after closing. They stand behind every home they build and treat the families living in their homes as neighbors.
Start Your New Construction Journey in the Twin Cities
Ron Clark Construction & Design has guided thousands of Twin Cities families through the new construction homebuying process over more than 50 years. From your first model home visit to your closing day celebration, our team walks with you every step of the way.
To get started, visit ronclark.com/, call 952-947-3000, or visit a model home in Golden Valley, Eden Prairie, Prior Lake, Minnetonka, or Plymouth.