A desire to avoid costly renovations and repairs is the main reason people choose new construction, almost twice as popular as the next most common reason -- the ability to customize a home's features.
No matter your reasons, Tri-Cities buyers certainly have plenty of options to get a fresh start in a newly-built home.
I'm Cari McGee. In my 20+ years as a Tri-Cities Realtor®, I've not only helped countless clients buy new construction, but my husband and I also had our own built in 2012!
Why People Buy New Construction Homes
There are a lot of great reasons to have a new home built rather than buying one that someone's already lived in. That "used" aspect of existing homes is the primary thing that spurs buyers to choose new construction.
According to the NAR's 2026 Generational Trends report, here are the main reasons buyers choose new construction.
The top six reasons are:
- To avoid renovations and problems with things like plumbing or electricity
- The ability to choose and customize their home's design features
- The amenities available in new construction communities
- The lack of inventory of previously owned homes
- New homes are green/energy efficient
- For smart home features
That's national data, as you can guess. I'm not aware of any similar data for the Tri-Cities, specifically, but I suspect it's directionally accurate in our area.
New Construction in the Tri-Cities
If you're thinking about buying or building a new home, the good news is that you have a lot of options right now.
As I type this, there are more than 350 new construction homes for sale across the Tri-Cities. Prices range from $350,000 to $2.8 million, so there truly is something from everyone.
If you're looking for new construction homes in Kennewick, be sure to check out these communities:
Across the river, Pasco's new construction homes and neighborhoods include
And lastly, you'll find a lot of new construction homes in Richland -- especially in these communities:
Make Sure You Have Representation
As you shop around for new construction homes, you'll probably end up visiting different builders and talking to their staff and sales people. They'll be very helpful for sure! But keep in mind that they work for the builder, not for you.
So my advice is simple, but important: hire a Realtor® to represent you and your interests. Here's just a few of the benefits of having your own agent:
Negotiations: Your agent can negotiate price when possible; that's not always an option in our area, but your agent will know. She or he can also negotiate upgrades, rate buydowns, lot premiums, appliances, and other items where builders may have more flexibility.
Evaluating the builder's offers: Inventory just hit a 13-year high in the Tri-Cities, so many builders are offering incentives to attract buyers. Your agent can help you understand if those offers are actually good deals.
Experience when choosing options and upgrades: It's easy to spend $30,000 or more in the design center. An agent who knows the local market can help you figure out which upgrades will help your resale value down the road, and which ones are expensive personal choices you may never recover.
Guidance on inspections: Even though avoiding repairs is the main reason people choose new construction (as you saw above), new doesn't mean perfect. I do recommend you have at least one inspection before moving in, and often more than one. And it should be an inspector that you hire, who works for you -- not an inspector that the builder choose and pays for.
Those are just some of the reasons to make sure you hire your own Realtor® when buying new construction.
If you're in need of an agent's help, call or text me anytime (509-430-5342) or use the form below to send me an email. I'm happy to help you find the right home in the right community -- on your budget and timeline.
-Cari