Maybe you're eyeballing some brand-new properties in a gated community. Maybe you want to design your own home to accommodate a growing family or a childhood dream. Whatever your reasons for building or buying a new home, here are a few myths that you shouldn't believe if you hear them!

1. You have to be rich to build a house.

There's a popular but mistaken idea that custom-built houses are all fancy mansions filled with infinity pools and yappy purse dogs. In reality, many of the people building their own homes are hard-working, middle-class individuals who just want to take control of their living space. If they can do it, so can you!

2. It takes too long.

It generally takes around 4-8 months to build a house. This number will be lower if your builders are using preexisting floor plans and higher if you're customizing everything from the sinks to the showers. Your builder can give you an idea of your building timeline and what to expect, so you can follow along with the process. 

If you're on a deadline from a job offer or baby bump, there are also ways that builders can speed up the construction process. Most good builders also have already built, move-in ready homes available for quick possession. All things considered, you could be moving into a new home at the start of the next weather season.

3. New homes are untried and untested.

Some people are wary of brand-new homes because they haven't been put through their paces like beloved and well-used homes. However, new properties have to pass rigorous tests to be allowed on the market. They've also been inspected, evaluated, and approved by everyone from contractors to home stagers, so lots of eyes have been in the place.

4. It's cheaper to just renovate an existing house.

This might be true if you're just slapping down a new carpet or rolling a different paint colour on the walls, but if the house needs serious fixes, you could be in for a nasty shock when the bill arrives. For example, just rearranging the plumbing in your bathroom can cost you thousands of dollars! It's simpler and less expensive to build your ideal bathroom from scratch. Plus, new homes are automatically protected by Alberta's new home warranty – DIY renovations become a thing of your past. 

5. It's too stressful.

While there are certain nerves involved in any home-buying process, signing the ink on a brand-new property isn't any more stressful than leasing or purchasing an older one. In fact, if you open a regular line of communication with the builder or property developer, it can actually be easier than going through a realtor. 

6. All builders are the same.

If you ask six different builders for a good home design, you'll receive six different sets of blueprints. There can also be huge variations in prices, schedules, values, team members, and communication levels. You'll need to choose a great Edmonton home builder that you can trust if you're serious about turning your dream home into a dream come true.

7. You'll be bamboozled into things you don't want.

A good building company will work with you every step of the way when it comes to things like drafting budgets, managing expenses, and planning the specifics of your new home. If you don't want a certain architectural element or interior decor, you can always tell them no. This is the whole point of building your own home: It's designed exactly the way you want it.

8. You'll be stuck in the middle of nowhere.

This is a fear of people who have seen half-finished housing developments without all of the stores, banks and coffee shops that eventually blossom around them. Rest assured that developers choose to build new communities in areas where they expect economic growth. You'll definitely have access to the essentials if you move into a new neighbourhood.

9. New homes are thrown together with cheap materials.

You get what you pay for, and real estate is no exception. If you cut corners, the quality of your home will suffer; if you invest in name-brand materials that are handled by top-rated building companies, your property is much more likely to meet your standards. At the end of the day, it's all about the investment that you're willing to make.

10. Your home will look just like the others in a developing neighbourhood.

While it's true that community developers like their homes to have a certain uniformity, this generally only applies to construction elements that are related to the home's durability and sustainability. If you're building a customized home, you can control things like size, colour, elevation, and amenities. All of the aesthetics are up to you.

11. New homes are bad for the environment.

This is so completely untrue that it's hard to understand how it ever became a myth! Eco-friendliness is very "in," so new homes are actually greener than a lot of the properties around them. Builders are encouraged to use sustainable materials and install energy-saving appliances to take advantage of a buyer's market that's all about Mother Earth.

12. You can't beat old-fashioned workmanship.

The short answer is "yes, you can." The long answer is that many older homes are actually labyrinths of crisscrossing wires and re-enforced foundations because owners keep renovating on top of one another. With a new home, you'll avoid all of this mess and enjoy a simple, streamlined design. It'll be much safer to boot.

13. You can't see the house until it's done.

This is a myth that probably comes from all of those home makeover shows where there's a dramatic reveal to the shocked and delighted homeowners. In truth, you can swing by your house and check on its progress whenever you'd like. You can even use computer simulations to know exactly what it will look like when it's finished.

Whether you're building or just buying a new home, don't let these misconceptions affect your decision-making process. You should have all of the facts before getting started.

Photo credits: solar energy, hammer