This week while listening to a couple of respected builders speak, I had an epiphany or what you may call a shift in my thought process. For quite some time, there has been a huge focus on new, new, new, meaning that’s what everyone wanted. It made sense because you could build or buy new for around the same price as what it would take to purchase an existing home and do any work it needed. The tide has shifted a bit with the cost of building through the roof. We’re currently looking at prices of $550 per square foot just to say hello for a new build, and $850 - $1,000 per foot for a showstopper, and that doesn’t include the cost of the land. That’s a lot of dough! The pricing of existing homes has become more realistic, and it may behoove buyers to look at remodeling or sprucing up instead of tearing down. The opportunity to build equity is certainly there. This is not to say a new build is a bad thing (trust me, they are selling) it’s just not for everyone with today’s pricing. It’s simply food for thought, and as I always say, if you’re considering buying, selling or investing, be sure to use a seasoned professional. There is just too much at stake with what is most likely your biggest asset.