John Varano

Generally speaking, there are two types of homes available to buyers. There are previously owned homes and there are new homes. Which one you choose comes down to a couple of factors. The first is personal preference. Some people prefer the quirks and character of an older home, while others like the comfort of knowing everything in their house is brand new. But though it'd be nice if it was, preference isn't usually the deciding factor. Ultimately, your decision will come down to budget and affordability. New homes tend to be more expensive than existing homes. Which means, whether or not you consider buying new might be determined by your price range. So how affordable is the typical new home? Well, according to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, they're becoming more affordable. In September, for example, the median sales price of new homes sold was $320,000, which is down from $331,500 last year at the same time.