New Construction Homes in Edmond and the OKC Metro
Someone on your side of the builder's contract, from two agents who have worked the builder side for years.
- Mark: 19 years in new construction, working for home builders across the OKC metro.
- Kelli: 21 years around new construction, and a Bachelor of Interior Design from the University of Central Oklahoma.
- Lending: Mark also worked in mortgage lending. He knows the types of loans used to finance new construction, and the options for making the move from your current home into a new one.
A 5-acre custom build that didn't run away
Clients relocating from California came to us wanting about 5 acres near Edmond and a custom home around 3,500 square feet. They knew they'd get more for their money in Oklahoma. They didn't know anything about buying land, designing a house, or working with a builder.
The builder listed the home as a rendering and a floor plan, and wanted to sell it cost plus, meaning the buyers would pay whatever it ended up costing plus the builder's fee. We warned them off that. Instead, we asked the builder for the list of design features included at a set price, so the buyers knew exactly what they were getting and exactly what each upgrade would add.
From there we walked with them through every step. We met the builder on site to decide which trees came down, and helped them pick finishes that looked right without pushing them over budget. The finished home and land closed in 2022 at $867,500, without the cost-plus surprises.
Free guide
Read This Before You Visit a Model Home
What to ask, what to read twice, and what to skip before you tour a new home in Edmond or the OKC metro.
Get the guide- Why the builder's sales rep works for the builder
- How to judge a lot premium and a builder's contract
- Which upgrades to buy now and which to skip
Buying new construction homes in Edmond and the OKC metro
New construction homes in Edmond and across the OKC metro are a big draw, and it's easy to see why. Current layouts, new systems, finishes you pick yourself, and no one else's repairs to inherit. For a lot of the buyers we talk to, the question isn't whether they want new. It's whether to build or buy something that already exists.
Buying new is its own process, and it runs on the builder's paperwork. The contract, the lot premium, the upgrade price sheet, and the construction timeline all come from the builder. Most buyers have never read a builder's contract before, and it's written to protect the builder.
We've spent a lot of our careers on the other side of that table. Mark has 19 years of new construction experience. He started on the builder side in 2007, working for home builders across the OKC metro, and he kept at it after getting his license in 2016. Before that he worked in mortgage lending alongside construction lenders, so he knows how a build gets financed.
Kelli has 21 years around new construction. She started with a home builder before she was licensed, and she has worked with new construction builders throughout her career. Her interior design degree means she reads how a home is laid out to live in and what is behind the walls, not just how it looks.
Together that is more than 40 years in building, lending, and real estate. We know how builders price, where the flexibility is, and where it isn't.
The builder's sales rep works for the builder
The person in the model home is usually friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. They also work for the builder. Their job is to sell the builder's homes at the builder's prices, on the builder's contract.
A buyer walking in alone is trusting the other side of the deal to look out for them. We're there so you have someone whose only job is your side: what the contract says, what you're paying for, and what you're agreeing to if the build runs late or the price changes.
We don't make builders the enemy. We've worked with them for years, and a good relationship with the builder's team makes a build go smoother. We just want you walking in knowing what they know.
What we do for you on a new build
- Before you pick a builder or a lot. We help you compare builders, neighborhoods, and lots, including what a lot premium really buys you.
- The contract, in plain English. We walk you through what it says about price changes, delays, deposits, and what's included, before you sign anything.
- A price you can see. We ask for the list of what's included at a set price, so every upgrade is a known number instead of a surprise.
- Upgrades worth the money. Kelli's interior design background helps you choose finishes you'll love at a cost that fits, and we'll tell you which upgrades buyers pay for at resale and which ones they don't.
- Financing, compared. Mark started in mortgage lending. Builders often have a preferred lender with incentives, and we'll help you compare that offer with your own lender's, side by side.
- On site when it counts. We'll meet you and the builder at the property when decisions come up, like which trees stay and which come down.
New construction or an existing home?
New isn't always the better buy, and existing isn't always the cheaper one. A new home may come with a smaller lot, a longer commute, a wait, and a price that climbs with every upgrade. An existing home may come with mature trees, a street with mature trees, and repairs you'll need to budget for.
Because we've sold both for years, we can lay them side by side for you: what the new home really costs once it's finished, and what the existing home really needs. If you're selling a house to build, selling to trade up covers how to time the sale with the build. If you want land with your new home, see acreage and land.
Talk to us before you visit the model home
The best time to bring us in is before you fall for a floor plan. We cover new construction across the metro, with most of our builds in and around new construction in Edmond.
Talk to Mark and Kelli, or call the team line at 405-593-8326. You can also read more about The Osterman Team.
This page describes our general approach. It isn't legal or lending advice, and every builder's contract is different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Doesn't the builder's sales rep represent me?
No. The builder's rep works for the builder and is paid to sell the builder's homes on the builder's terms. A buyer's agent works for you and looks out for your side of the contract.
What does cost plus mean on a new home?
Cost plus means you pay whatever the home ends up costing to build, plus the builder's fee. The final price isn't known when you sign. We prefer a set price with a written list of what's included, so upgrades are known numbers.
Which upgrades are worth paying for?
It depends on the house and the neighborhood, but upgrades that are hard to change later usually matter more than ones you can swap out yourself. We'll walk through the builder's price sheet with you and flag what buyers tend to pay for at resale.
Should I use the builder's preferred lender?
Sometimes it's worth it for the incentives, and sometimes your own lender is the better deal. We'll help you compare the two offers side by side before you decide.
Can I sell my current house while my new one is being built?
Yes, and the build timeline often helps, because it gives you months to prepare and sell. We'll help you line up your sale with the builder's schedule.
New Construction by neighborhood
Keep exploring
Ready to make your move with The Osterman Team?