Killeen Homes for Sale

By Colleen Flaherty
Killeen Daily Herald

Despite recent national reports of a building slump, new home permit applications in Killeen have only increased in recent months.

Nationwide, in February, home construction dropped 22.5 percent in February from January to a seasonally adjusted 479,000 homes, according to information released Wednesday by the Commerce Department. Building permits, an indicator of future construction, dropped 8.1 percent from January, to some of the lowest levels on record.

By contrast, the City of Killeen received payment for 92 building permits for new, single family homes in February, up from 74 in January.

About 80 single family home permits have been paid for already this month, according to information from Killeen’s permitting department.

Part of the uptick in permits this month has to do with changes to the building code that take effect in April, Chief Building Inspector Larry Carson said, but Killeen has experienced a generally rosy

building outlook over the last several years.

Permit levels were about 10 percent higher in January and February of 2010, according to information from the permitting office, but Carson said his day-to-day work hasn’t slowed any over the last year.

“I think we’ve been blessed,” he said, adding that commercial building is also strong. “A lot of cities have slowed way down.”

Single family homes account for about 80 percent of home construction nationwide.

Larry Mitchell, ERA Colonial Real Estate in Harker Heights, offers a host of innovative programs and services to ensure a smooth transition for clients wishing to purchase a newly constructed home in Central Texas.

Do you have concerns about selling their existing home, securing financing and affording unexpected maintenance costs?  Through programs such as the ERA® Sellers Security® Plan, ERA Mortgage, the ERA Home Protection Plan® and Select Services®, Larry offers a real estate experience tailored to meet the unique needs of new construction homebuyers.

Many new construction home purchasers worry about a future drop in the market or an inability to sell their home. The ERA Sellers Security Plan offers buyers the assurance and flexibility to put their minds at ease by offering a guaranteed and agreed upon purchase price and closing date. By participating in the Sellers Security Plan, buyers can also borrow up to $150,000 against their equity for the down payments often required by builders before beginning the construction process.

Once the down payment is paid, homebuyers often turn their attention to securing adequate financing and unexpected maintenance costs. To address these concerns, ERA Mortgage offers a variety of financing options designed specifically for new construction homebuyers. The Extended Home Protection Plan for ERA® can provide coverage for years after the builder’s warranty has expired. ERA Colonial Real Estate also offers buyers savings on homeowners’ insurance, inspection services, home security systems, car rentals and other valuable services through ERA Select Consumer Services^SM.

If you are interested in building a home in the Killeen, Harker Heights, Temple, Belton or Central Texas area, contact Larry for more details on the various services he provides to new construction buyers.  Larry works with many top builders in the area and can help you make the right decision about building your new home.