What you actually need to know.
New construction works nothing like resale. Contracts, earnest money, warranties, MUD/PID taxes, mortgage timing — the playbook is different and the stakes are higher. We publish field-tested guides as we work through them.
- Foundational
How earnest money works on a new-construction home
Builders treat earnest money differently than resale. Here's what's typical, what's negotiable, and where buyers get surprised.
7 min readBy Sarah ChenUpdated Apr 2026 - Process
Reading a new-construction contract: the four sections that matter most
Builder contracts are different from resale contracts. Four sections deserve disproportionate attention before you sign.
8 min readBy Sarah ChenUpdated Apr 2026 - Process
When to lock your mortgage rate on a build that closes in 8 months
Long lock options, float-down provisions, builder-paid rate buydowns. How to think about timing on a build that closes far in the future — and the expensive mistakes buyers make by treating new construction like a resale.
9 min readBy Jordan PatelUpdated Apr 2026
More guides in the queue: contracts & addenda, earnest money & deposits, builder warranties, MUD/PID taxes, choosing a lender.