http://lziegler.cbharper.com/blog/categoryname_buying-a-home/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ The short answer: you don’t have to, but it’s smart to have one. The friendly sales consultant at the model home works for the builder, not for you. Having your own REALTOR® means someone is looking out for your interests from your first visit to your one-year warranty walk-through, and in most cases the builder pays your agent’s compensation. I get this question all the time, so let’s break it down. Who does the builder’s sales consultant work for?The builder. They’re usually knowledgeable, helpful and genuinely nice people. But their job is to sell the builder’s homes at the builder’s price, on the builder’s contract and timeline. That’s not a knock on them. It’s just how it works. When it comes to negotiating incentives, reviewing the contract or pointing out what you might be missing, they can’t be on your side of the table. Can I bring my own REALTOR® to a new construction home?Yes, but here’s the catch: bring me on your very first visit. Most builders require your agent to be with you, or registered, the first time you walk into a community or model home. If you stop in on your own one Saturday afternoon and fill out the guest card, you may lose the chance to have representation for that home later. If you’re even thinking about touring, call me first. Better yet, let me schedule the visits for you. Will having my own agent cost me more?Usually not. In most cases, the builder pays the buyer’s agent on new construction, so having me on your side often costs you little or nothing. And you usually won’t save money by skipping your own agent, because builders rarely lower the price just because you came in alone. Every builder is different, so I’ll confirm how it works up front, before you sign anything. What does a buyer’s agent actually do on a new build?More than most people expect. New construction has its own rules, and here’s what I handle for my buyers:Comparing builders and communities side by side, including base prices, lot premiums, HOA dues and tax ratesReviewing the builder’s contract with you. It’s written by the builder’s attorneys and is different from the standard Texas resale contract, so we’ll go over deadlines, deposits and what happens if the build is delayedNegotiating incentives like closing-cost help, rate buydowns, upgrades or lot premium reductionsHelping you decide which design center upgrades are worth it and which are better done after closingRecommending independent inspections at the pre-foundation, pre-drywall and final stagesHelping you compare the builder’s preferred lender against your other optionsTracking the build, walking the final home with you and making sure punch-list items get fixed What should I watch for in San Antonio specifically?A few things catch buyers off guard here:Property taxes vary a lot. Many newer communities sit inside special districts, like a MUD (municipal utility district) or PID (public improvement district), that can add to your tax bill. Two homes at the same price can have very different monthly payments.Lot premiums add up. Corner lots, greenbelt views and larger lots often come with an extra charge on top of the base price.Incentives change often. Builders adjust their incentives regularly, and move-in ready homes, sometimes called inventory or spec homes, often come with bigger ones than homes you build from scratch.Location matters for your daily life. Commute times, nearby shopping and how much new development is planned around a community can make a big difference in how a home fits your life.Here’s what I tell my buyers before their first model home visit1. Get pre-approved, but don’t commit to a lender yet. Knowing your budget helps, and you’ll want to compare your lender’s offer with any builder incentives.2. Narrow your search. My New Home Buddy search shows new homes from almost every builder in greater San Antonio on one map, with incentives listed right on each home. It’s an easy way to shortlist communities before you spend weekends driving around.3. Call me before you walk in. That one step protects your ability to have representation and gives you someone in your corner from day one. Bottom LineYou can buy a new construction home without your own agent, but you’d be negotiating with the builder’s team on your own, on the builder’s contract. Having your own REALTOR® usually costs you nothing and can save you money, time and stress. Thinking about building or buying new? No pressure. Let’s talk about it. I’ll help you compare your options, register you with any builder you’re interested in and make sure you go in with all the information. Lorrie Ziegler, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, REALTORS®210-247-7297 | lziegler@cbharper.comSearch new construction: New Home Buddy http://lziegler.cbharper.com/blog/1521/do-i-need-a-realtor®-to-buy-a-new-construction-home-in-san-antonio?/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:55:32 -0600 3 Things That Are Not Going To Happen in Today’s Housing MarketIf you’ve been thinking about buying a home lately, chances are you’ve also seen some pretty dramatic headlines.One day it’s “prices are about to crash.”The next day it’s “wait for rates to drop.”Then suddenly everyone online is acting like the entire housing market is about to fall apart.It’s no wonder buyers feel uncertain. The problem is, a lot of what gets attention online is designed to create fear — not necessarily provide context. And when you actually look at the data, the market looks very different than the headlines suggest.So let’s clear up a few of the biggest misconceptions buyers are hearing right now.Misconception #1: “I’ll Just Wait for Mortgage Rates To Crash”A lot of buyers are sitting on the sidelines because they’re hoping mortgage rates will suddenly drop dramatically.Could rates come down eventually? Sure. But most experts are not forecasting a major drop anytime soon.Right now, the expectation is that rates will likely stay in the current range for the near future. That means waiting for some magical “perfect rate” may not really play out the way many buyers hope. And honestly, there’s another side to this people don’t always think about:If rates do drop significantly, buyer competition will likely increase again too.That means:More buyers jumping back into the marketMore multiple-offer situationsLess negotiating powerAnd potentially higher home pricesIronically, waiting for lower rates can sometimes end up costing buyers more overall. Meanwhile, buyers shopping today often have advantages that didn’t exist a few years ago:More inventoryMore negotiating powerSeller concessionsClosing cost assistanceInterest rate buy-down opportunitiesNew builder incentivesAnd here’s something important to remember: You can always refinance your interest rate later if rates improve. You can’t go back and buy at yesterday’s home prices.Misconception #2: “There Are Too Many Homes for Sale”You’ve probably heard inventory is rising — and nationally, that’s true. But more inventory is not a bad thing. In fact, for buyers, it’s one of the healthiest shifts we’ve seen in years.For a long time, buyers were dealing with:Extremely limited optionsHomes selling immediatelyBidding warsWaived contingenciesAnd intense pressure to make rushed decisionsToday’s market feels much more balanced. Yes, inventory is higher than last year, but in many areas it’s still below what was considered normal before the pandemic. That’s a huge distinction that often gets left out of the headlines.More homes on the market simply means buyers finally have:More choicesMore time to thinkMore room to negotiateAnd less pressure overallThat’s not a housing crash. That’s a healthier market.Misconception #3: “Home Prices Are About To Crash”This is probably the biggest misconception floating around online right now. Are some individual markets seeing small price adjustments? Yes. But a nationwide crash like 2008? That’s highly unlikely based on the current data. The housing market today is very different from what led to the crash years ago.Here’s why:Lending standards are much stricter nowMost homeowners have significant equityInventory is still relatively limited overallMany homeowners are locked into very low mortgage rates and aren’t rushing to sellAnd even in areas where prices have softened slightly, most homeowners are still sitting on substantial appreciation from the last several years. What we’re seeing in many places isn’t a crash — it’s simply the market normalizing after an unusually aggressive run-up in prices.There’s a big difference between prices slowing down and prices collapsing. Those are not the same thing.So… Is It Better To Buy Now or Wait?The honest answer is: it depends on your goals, finances, and timing.But here’s what I tell buyers all the time. Trying to perfectly time the market usually doesn’t work. The “perfect” combination of:low rateslow priceshigh inventorylow competitionand tons of negotiating powerrarely exists all at once.What matters more is:Buying when you’re financially readyUnderstanding your optionsHaving a strategyAnd making smart decisions based on facts — not fear-driven headlinesWhat This Means for San AntonioHere in San Antonio, the biggest opportunity I’m seeing right now is in new construction. Builders across the area are competing for buyers, and many are offering closing-cost help, rate buydowns or upgrades that can make a real difference in your monthly payment. On the resale side, buyers generally have more time to look and more room to negotiate than they did a few years ago. Just keep in mind that property taxes, HOA dues and MUD or PID taxes can vary a lot from one community to the next, so the asking price is only part of the picture. If you want to know what the market looks like in the specific neighborhoods you’re considering, ask me. I’m happy to pull the numbers for you.If you’re trying to figure out whether buying now makes sense for you, I’m always happy to talk through your options, answer questions, and help you make a smart plan based on your goals and your situation. No pressure — just real information so you can make confident decisions. Lorrie Ziegler, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, REALTORS®210-247-7297 http://lziegler.cbharper.com/blog/1520/3-things-that-are-not-going-to-happen-in-today’s-housing-market/ Tue, 19 May 2026 08:18:27 -0600