Homebuyers in Lewisville, Flower Mound and Highland Village lean more toward newer houses.
For many, it is about avoiding renovations or problems with plumbing and electrical, according to a survey from the latest Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report from Texas Realtors.
“The newer the better,” said Becky Garrison, sales leader and associated broker for Ebby Halliday in Flower Mound/Lewisville.
The challenge is that a lot of homes on the market, especially in Flower Mound and Highland Village, are priced out of buyers’ reach.
As of late June, for example, only six homes in Flower Mound were listed between $250,000 and $350,000, Garrison said. In Lewisville, meanwhile, more than 70% of the more than 200 active listings were under $300,000.
Audra Smolinski, a broker and Realtor with Loves Residential Realty, agreed that affordability is a primary factor for today’s buyers. The challenge is balancing the price with everything else they want, she said.
“They want it all, and they can’t afford it,” she said. “It’s difficult to find anything move-in ready under $200,000.”
Garrison said the Chip and Joanna Gaines factor is also at play when people put their homes on the market. The Waco couple is behind the popular HGTV series “Fixer Upper,” which features homes that are more neutral, that have accent pieces and that include finishes that can be accessorized, she said.
“Make it a memorable house but not specific to taste,” Garrison said.
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