Rustic hardwoods, snappy white shiplap, whitewashed brick, and creamy white walls and cabinets make this new construction home in Lexington, SC feel like home in 2022.
There’s nothing better than moving into a brand new luxury home of your dreams. Many people think you have to go to major cities like California, New York, or Los Angeles to find luxury homes for sale in new construction.
Interestingly, the South is where the luxury housing market is booming right now. And it doesn’t look like that is going to change any time soon.
Let’s face it, if you aren’t from South Carolina, you may have no idea there are many luxury housing options in Columbia, SC. But there are — whether it’s at Lake Murray, Lake Carolina, Lexington, downtown Columbia, or on a golf course in West Columbia, SC.
So if you’re thinking about moving to the South, we believe it’s worth your time to check out potential new home options here in SC.
A drone view of gorgeous Lake Murray, a large man-made lake on the northwest side of Columbia — a perfect place for a new construction home in SC.
3 Secrets About the Columbia, South Carolina Housing Market:
While many places are going into a slump, our SC housing markets across suburban and urban areas are still hopping. Many people see the advantages of moving here and they decide to head for the Palmetto State.
So Is It a Buyers or Sellers Market in Columbia, SC?
Forbes recently listed Columbia, SC as one of the top ten seller’s markets in the nation right now. That may seem to be a bad thing for buyers, but our market has a few secrets.
Secret #1: Our Housing Prices Are Lower Than Most Other Large Markets
Yes, even though it is still a seller’s market, buyers get a great deal here. And, construction costs tend to be lower in the South than in other parts of the country, as well.
South Carolina, overall, has lower housing costs, but for a home near a large city, you’ll pay the most in Charleston. The next highest housing prices are generally in Greenville. That’s why so many people come to central South Carolina.
You can get a lot more house for your money in Columbia than you may be able to in Charleston, Greenville, Atlanta, or other big cities and suburban areas around the country. So your investment gets you a higher level luxury here than in many other places.
Secret #2: South Carolina Is a Beautiful Place to Live
In Columbia, we have big lake living at Lake Murray and Lake Carolina. We have the absolutely exploding town of Lexington with its amazing public school district, economic opportunities, and lots of fun things to do in the Greater Columbia area.
We are between the mountains and the beach so either destination is an easy day trip from here.
And we have milder winters, lower gas prices, lower property taxes, and a lower cost of living than many other places in America.
Secret #3: There Are Some Gorgeous New Construction Homes in Lexington and Columbia, SC
Whether you are looking in Lexington county, downtown Columbia or the Northeast side of Columbia, you’ll find newly-built luxury homes you’ll adore.
Check out our latest work at the bottom of our portfolio page.
Our 7000 square-foot Southern Manor built in the Lexington, SC area in 2021.
Why Choose New Construction Homes in Columbia South Carolina?
People love walking into a brand-new home that doesn’t need any work at all. Most buyers don’t have time or energy to devote to renovating an older home and trying to make it what they want it to be. And even if they did, finding a preowned home right now can be difficult.
With new construction, everything is under warranty. You don’t have to worry about someone else’s dirt, stains, or wear and tear. Your appliances are new and state-of-the-art. So you can focus on enjoying your life instead of constantly having to tend to a honey-do list.
This is exactly why new construction move-in ready homes in Columbia and the Lexington area are in huge demand now. Having a turn-key option where all you have to do is back up the moving truck, bring in your belongings, and settle in sounds like a win to buyers.
4 types of new construction homes in South Carolina in the luxury home market
If you are interested in South Carolina new construction homes in the luxury market, here are your main options:
1. A Semi-Custom Home in a Master-planned Community: This allows you to buy a new construction home before or during the building process. If the home build has already started on a spec home, you can still have a semi-custom home, making adjustments to personalize the house plan and finishes for yourself.
If there are still available lots, you may even be able to choose your lot and opt for one of many house plans available.
2. A Spec Home in a Master-planned Community: A spec home can be a great option if you want something already built and move-in ready without any wait time. Find a luxury builder who already has a home, or several homes, ready for sale. And choose the one that best suits your needs.
3. A Custom-Built Home on Your Own Lot: You can buy your own lot near your work, on Lake Murray, on a private pond, in the woods, in your favorite school district zone… and have your own custom home built anywhere you’d like. Use your own architect or select from your custom builder’s luxury home plans.
4. A Modular Home on Your Own Lot: Consider buying a modular home and having it assembled on your property. There are some limitations with customization options and limitations on which neighborhoods would allow you to build a modular home. But this route may be a faster method of getting into a new construction home than building a custom home from scratch.
Rear view of a French Country Modern home we built in Saluda River Club – where we are building several new construction homes in Lexington, SC in a resort-style community.
What Do People Want When Buying a New Construction Home?
Some people are just itching to build a home from the ground up and make every decision themselves. (We do custom home builds like that in the Columbia, SC area quite often.) But it takes a few months to get through the process.
Others prefer to find a new move-in ready home that is already finished, or close to finished. Maybe they don’t like making all those customized decisions or are on a short timetable. We get that, too. That’s exactly why we build spec homes in Lexington SC and other parts of central SC
Some of the biggest amenities we see our custom home clients ask for:
In South Carolina, no one wants heated driveways as they do up north. Thankfully, we don’t get enough snow and ice for that to be a concern and our winters tend to be mild.
Instead, here buyers are looking for outdoor options like a large yard and a custom swimming pool. Inside, people want smart home technology, dual home offices, wine storage, and a home gym.
The New Construction Home Buying Process
The new home buying process is different depending on which type of new construction home you want to buy.
A Custom House On Your Own Lot
Some people may choose to get a land loan in the beginning when they are only buying a lot.
If you are building a custom home on your own lot, before building begins, you’ll likely get a construction loan. This is a short-term loan that provides for the costs of custom home building.
There are two types of construction loans you can ask your lender about
- Construction-only loan – This type of loan generally lasts for one year. At the time it is complete, you would move to a regular mortgage loan, also called an end loan.
- Construction-To-Permanent Loan – This kind of loan is a one-time option that covers both construction costs and the mortgage later.
A Spec House in a Master-Designed Community:
With a finished spec house in a high-quality neighborhood, the buying process is generally similar to buying a pre-existing home where you would only apply for an end loan and wouldn’t need a construction loan.
Of course, when you are looking into buying a new construction home in South Carolina, your financial advisor, realtor, builder, or mortgage company can help you determine which loan makes the most sense for you.
We are now building Phase V in Golden Hills Country Club. Several lots are available and two homes are currently under construction.
Looking for new construction move-in ready homes near you in the Columbia SC area?
New houses in Lexington and Columbia, SC can be a bit difficult to find at the moment. But we have great news!
We are building new homes in Lexington, SC in the Golden Hills golf course neighborhood and we have several lots available plus six beautiful, custom plans to choose from.
Buy a home that is already finished. Or opt for one that is in process so you can select all your favorite finishes.
Why should buyers consider our new homes in Lexington, SC?
The town of Lexington, SC is one of the most sought-after areas near Columbia for new homes. The location and school districts are hard to beat.
All of our Golden Hills new construction homes (Lexington SC) are zoned for Lexington 1 Schools, including River Bluff High School, one of the most highly regarded schools in the Columbia area.
They are close to downtown Lexington where you can find plenty of shopping, lots of career opportunities, fine restaurants, and lots to do.
When You’re Ready to See New Custom Homes in Lexington, SC – Check with Us.
It’s exciting to be a custom home builder in South Carolina because we have the joy of making people’s dreams come true every day.
At Blythe Building Company, we may have spec homes available that you can tour in 2022 and 2023. You can see one, fall in love, and move in quickly.
Or, if you want to build your own custom luxury home from start to finish, we’d also love to help you with that. If you are in the market for a new construction home in the $700K+ range in Lexington or the Columbia, SC area…
Please contact us today.
We build in Lexington, Chapin, around Lake Murray, Lake Carolina, downtown Columbia, Pine Ridge, Irmo, Ballentine, West Columbia, and more areas of the Midlands.
Related
Saluda River Club — Hottest Neighborhood in SC! (A resort-style neighborhood in Lexington, SC)
Golden Hills: New Construction Homes for Sale in Lexington, SC (A luxury golf course community)
Luxury Homes: Is a Spec Home Builder Right for You?
