New homes typically have a higher sales price than comparable existing homes, and buyers are usually willing to spend more on a new home because of lower maintenance costs. Builders' warranties on new homes, when combined with a new roof, appliances, and major systems, usually make major repairs unnecessary and help to counter a slower initial rate of appreciation.

Census Bureau Housing Surveys suggests that operating costs are lowest for brand new homes and slightly higher for relatively new existing homes. Operating costs per square foot of living space are consistently higher for progressively older existing homes. Utility costs represent the largest factor in operating costs. Energy consumption per square foot depends on the size of the home, the insulation and quality of the windows, air leakage and the efficiency of the furnace.

New homes require fewer expenditures for routine maintenance. The cost of maintenance first increases with age, then declines, so you will generally spend less maintaining a home built before 1960 than for a home built between 1970 and 1975.

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Lee Tessier
RE/MAX American Dream
9414 Belair Rd
Baltimore, MD 21236
410-638-9555
Fax: 888-644-7775
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Lee Tessier of RE/MAX American Dream provides real estate services in Baltimore, Maryland including Baltimore County and Harford County. I list and sell real estate in the following Baltimore Counties, White Marsh, Perry Hall, Dundalk, Essex, Kinsville, Upper Falls, Nottingham, Parkville, Timonium, Cockeysville, Hunt Valley, Monkton, Townson, Glen Arm, Baldwin and the following Harford County communites of Abingdon, Edgewood, Bel Air, Darlington, Dublin, Monkton, Norrisville, Pylesville, Street, Whiteford, Forest Hill, Churchville, Jarrettsville, Fallston and Joppa. I list and sell residential real estate investment properties, historical properties, land, condominimums, townhomes in Baltimore, Maryland. I work with Military families with buying and selling real estate or relocating to and from Baltimore, Maryland.

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