New Construction · River Region
Building new? Bring your own agent.
The sales rep in the model home works for the builder. Shana works for you. She has spent the last five years focused on new construction in Prattville, Pike Road, Millbrook and Wetumpka, from the first model tour to the one-year warranty visit.
Why it matters
A new house still needs someone on your side.
The builder's contract
Builders use their own purchase agreements, written to protect the builder. Shana reads every page with you and flags deposit terms, timelines and what happens if the build runs late.
Selections add up fast
The design center is where budgets drift. Shana helps you separate the upgrades worth paying for now from the ones you can add later for less.
Eyes on the build
She stops by at milestones and pushes for a pre-drywall inspection, when wiring, plumbing and framing are still visible.
Incentives, decoded
Builder incentives are often tied to the builder's preferred lender. Shana helps you compare that offer against your own lender so you see the real number.
A real walkthrough
Shana walks the house with you before closing and makes sure the punch list is written down and finished.
Warranty in writing
Alabama law doesn't require builders to give a written warranty. Most good builders do, and Shana makes sure you have yours and know how to file a claim.
Selections
Pre-drywall
Final walkthrough
From model home to keys
How a new build actually goes.
- 1
Pick a builder and community
Start with commute, lot size, budget and how soon you need to move. Shana tours models with you and tells you how each builder's homes have held up on resale.
- 2
Get pre-approved
Builders want a pre-approval letter with the contract. If a builder's lender is offering an incentive, get a quote from your own lender too and compare.
- 3
Sign the builder's contract
Expect an earnest money deposit, often a few thousand dollars and more for contingent or cash offers. Shana reviews the terms before you sign.
- 4
Make your selections
On a home that hasn't started, you choose finishes at the design center. On a spec home already underway, what you can still change depends on how far along it is.
- 5
Construction
A typical build in this market runs about five to seven months. Shana keeps up with the builder and lets you know when something needs your attention.
- 6
Inspections and walkthrough
A pre-drywall inspection if the builder allows one, then a final inspection and walkthrough before closing.
- 7
Closing, and the first year
After you get the keys, Shana is still your contact for warranty items that come up in the first year.
Who's building here
Builders & communities around the River Region.
Shana represents buyers with every builder below, and with others building in the area. Inventory and pricing change weekly, so ask her what's available right now.
Stone Martin Builders
Building in
Prattville, Pike Road, Wetumpka
Energy-efficient homes in established and new communities across the region.
Lowder New Homes
Building in
Pike Road, East Montgomery
A Montgomery builder for nearly 70 years, including the lake community of Kinsley in Pike Road.
D.R. Horton
Building in
Pike Road, Prattville, Wetumpka, Montgomery
National builder with entry and mid-range communities around the River Region.
Holland Homes
Building in
Pike Road
The builder behind Everley in Pike Road.
Goodwyn Building
Building in
Prattville, Millbrook, Wetumpka, Deatsville
Local builder with communities across Autauga and Elmore counties.
Also building nearby: Lennar, Harris Doyle Homes and Jim Wilson & Associates. Builder names are listed for reference only and don't imply an endorsement.
- ProvidenceStone Martin
- McClain LandingStone Martin
- GlennbrookeStone Martin
- Magnolia RidgeD.R. Horton
- Highland FarmsD.R. Horton
- Brierfield EstatesGoodwyn
- KinsleyLowder
- Woodland CreekLowder
- EverleyHolland Homes
- AbbingtonStone Martin
- Boykin LakesStone Martin
- Villages of Pike RoadD.R. Horton
- CoventryStone Martin
- Laurel RidgeD.R. Horton
- The CoveGoodwyn
- Several communitiesGoodwyn
Questions buyers ask
New construction, answered.
Text Shana before your first model-home visit.
Some builders only recognize an agent who is registered at the first visit.
(334) 306-4520Do I need my own agent if the builder has a sales rep?+
The on-site sales rep works for the builder and represents the builder's interests. Your own agent represents you through the contract, selections, inspections and closing.
What does it cost me to have Shana represent me?+
Many builders offer to pay the buyer's agent, so a lot of buyers pay nothing out of pocket for representation. Since August 2024, you sign a written agreement with your agent before touring homes. That agreement spells out how your agent is paid, the amount is negotiable, and your agent can't be paid more than it allows from any source. Shana will walk you through it before you tour.
Do I have to bring Shana on my first model-home visit?+
Policies vary by builder, and some won't recognize an agent who wasn't there or registered at the first visit. Call or text Shana before you walk into a model home so she can register you.
Can I use my own lender?+
Yes. Builders may tie their best incentives to their preferred lender, so it often pays to get quotes from both and compare closing costs and rate together.
Does a brand-new house need an inspection?+
Yes. New homes can have framing, plumbing, electrical or drainage problems that a city inspection doesn't catch. Ask the builder up front whether it allows an independent pre-drywall inspection.
How do I check that a builder is licensed?+
Alabama requires a license from the Home Builders Licensure Board for residential work over $10,000. You can look up any builder on the board's website.
Let's talk
Start with a conversation.
Tell Shana where you are with buying, selling, building or a PCS move, and she'll tell you what comes next. Texting works too.
- Call(334) 306-4520
- TextSame number
- Emailrealtorshanag@gmail.com
- KW Montgomery office1716 Taliaferro Trail, Montgomery, AL 36117